tsuyoi_hikari

Each case just getting better and better. I'm actually getting really intrigued with this Puppet case. The cinematography and storytelling is better as well in the newer episodes. They set the stage really well on how creepy and eerie the whole place look despite being so so beautiful -- I want to take vacation there ngl lol.

Then they gave us red herrings which you can feel everything is wrong in that place -- everything look suspicious yet you still have no idea who is the mastermind since everytime she caught red handed lying or change her narrative, she will convinced you that it all makes sense and has reason but you know this is all wrong -- your guts has always been right. I love how calm and manipulative Wunniang is.

And despite all of these, I love when we dwell more on these demons and their back stories. Like the Mirror Demon, it is such a good revelation that he has been with the dancer probably hundreds of years which explain the love and obsession. Then here again, the old man, his story being 20 years at the fort, being all alone, abandoned, you can get why it will drove everyone mad.

Also, I just love it eveytime our main couple has this alone time together. Their relationship is very comforting and soothing -- they will talk and talk and you understand the attraction and understanding. I love how Chi Xue described Xuanye's family to Banxia -- 'Just like you'. That simple answer tells you everything -- he likes silence YET, he always let her talk non-stop since just like his family, she remind him of them. 💔

And I didnt expect to be emotional but that scene where Xuanye told the cousin about his family and the expression on his face. 😢 Then the cousin take that one last sip of the wine, you know he's gonna finally say goodbye to his wife. 😭

I also love how everytime you question something and point out plot armor or holes, the drama will address it. Like the conversation Xuanye had with Banxia to keep pretending to be a married couple and then Wunniang knocks the door right after that-- she must have heard the conversation? No? It soon revealed that you can barely hear from outside since even when Banxia is saying something alone in her room, Xuanye cant hear what she said as well. Or sleep with shoes on! Then you can see they remove it later. :D

As someone who watched Buffy & Supernatural, I felt that the CGI and Monsters are better. Regarding storytelling, I actually prefers this one as it is more layered and with depth -- with each case and story that being presented. And the way it is going right now, each new cases will be even better than the last and more lesson and thought provoking theme will be covered.

My advise, just try at least 8 episodes. This drama took a bit time to take off (Episode 3) but once they take off, they did really well plot wise. If its still not working to you by 8 episode, you can drop it.

Will do! Once the drama finished, I will a proper review of the whole thing. :D

Thank you! 🤗 Yes, I will put in a proper review once the drama finished.

All the latest episodes have been great. I actually find the script to be one of the strongest reason for the popularity. Instead of aiming to shock in the first few episodes, it actually took time to take off which ngl, made me a bit worried. They properly wrote the introduction and set the stage and later you can see how one case and another case woven together beautifully with both the ML and FL's past being presented to us slowly.

I love like how the demons who masked their true forms to fool and mingling with human, the leads as well started with a different presentation of their true self. Xuanye looks like an earnest demon hunter initially during his first introduction to us until when we reached the next arc of the story when we finally figure out that he is actually nonchalant and pretty apathetic due to his past. Then we have Banxia, which seemed a little slow and dim-witted until she stopped taking the calm medicine then we started to see the colorful girl that she actually is -- brave, kind and adorably naïve and lovable. Its the same with the demons -- with each case, we supposed to see these different perspectives of them -- are they all bad or there are some that are good? And while the first case seemed to gloss over the demon, we got more of them in the 2nd and now 3rd case. Each one of these cases started to give us different narrative of their true self and nature.

The writer also using some interesting writing choice to present us the plot without appearing that they are spoon feeding us the information which I enjoy. For an example, we didnt know some information about these demon and their power but the characters do, so what the writer did is having one of the characters reading the book loudly to us to give us the plan and information then later having Xuanye getting annoyed on why they read it loudly -- thus passing it as quirks of the characters. Or you will question some of the plot that happened like why Banxia is so brave to come to the forest alone at night -- Xuanye & Chi Xue are questioning it as well but then we got the beautiful firefly scene which accompany her until she reached home. These are among the signs of good writing.

So, far, with all the airing episodes, I find the writing pretty solid and enjoyable. Hope the same pace continue till the end.

Chi Zhu's ''Wont the water leech kill at the temple because he is a Buddhist?'' And Xuanye was like ''Huh???!!''

lol I dig this kind of humour very very much.

Or Banxia's ''The one who rare rabbit! The one who rare rabbits~~!'' 😆😂

The novel writer also participate actively when this screenplay was written so I think they wont butcher the story too much.

I'm enjoying this way too much as well, which I didnt expect lol.

She is the original novel writer but not the screenwriter for Princess Agent. While I shudder when I learnt about it -- since the script for Princess Agent is truly a mess and full of plot holes. But then I realized that she written the novel and not the drama. So, we are good to go, hopefully.

I'm really loving this show now. I was hesitant on the first 2 episodes, but now I'm totally obsessed lol. I complained at the beginning since I dont feel the same depth & layers like Ren Jialun's usual scripts but now I'm beginning to change my mind. The way they written the demon is with stages so while it seemed at first they were simply as plot device and were glossed over, I start to see how we will empathies with them as more episodes go by. Just like the human form they took to hide their true form, we supposed to view the drama as well that way and how gradually we will start to see different perspective with each new cases -- where layers of layers will be shed about them and their own tragic stories.

Then how the writer weaved between emotional scenes and funny scenes back to back is refreshingly funny and interesting. One scene, Banxia is telling Xuanye this emotional story about her past with tears and all then it interlaced with 'Xuanye... have you fallen asleep?' since it seemed like he didnt listen. 😂 Then we see him teaching her mantra to help her sleep and right after that Chi Zhu using the same mantra in hilarious situation. I mean, why? But I dig it lol.

And both of the leads acting has been fantastic. I totally see both of them as the character instead of the actors. Ren Jialun's judgy smiles and nonchalant, apathetic, dismissive mannerism is something he hasnt done before. :D Then Song Zu'er, I adore this girl! I find Banxia totally adorable and cute and refreshingly reacting to shocking events like any normal girl would. I was taken aback with how her reaction to everything is like a normal girl will be if they are in the same situation -- how shocked or terrified she is everytime danger comes knocking her door.

Ohh I didn't know its female centric -- I thought it would be more like equal billing for Shin Minah and Lee Jongsuk. And that makes it even more amazing.

You are absolutely right. But even with that, there is tier. Superstar level would be like Hyun Bin, Jung Woosung, Joo Jihoon then you have ML but not in Superstar level like Woo Dohwan & Nam Joohyuk. This is not a dismissive comments but they havent reach that stage yet -- thats what I meant.

Woo Dohwan & Kwon Nara is in different status. They dont have a truly successful drama where they are the main leads like Joo Jihoon for an example. Like I mentioned, Cho Seungwoo is the 1st billing materials in East Palace.

But if you want to see them as 1st billing materials, can as well since its after all a free world.

1st billing actors in:
Made in Korea - Hyun Bin & Jung Woosung
Knock Off - Kim Soohyun & Jo Boah
East Palace - Cho Seungwoo & Nam Joohyun

2 first billing actors in all 3 dramas which is a norm. Test rest, I dont consider them as first billing more like second billing materials.

I think these people just come and comment without actually watching these dramas.

RJL dramas has always been with little romance. All his last 3 dramas are non-romance centered where romance is only a tiny sub-plot. For his full romance dramas like The Blue Whisper & Forever and Ever, he has kissing scenes in them. So I really dont understand where this hate is coming from lol. Its like people just coming here to complaint about something that they dont even watch. Its really bizarre and funny.

Dont worry. This is not a romance drama. Romance probably 2% or 5% only. All his last 3 dramas are not romance centered just like this drama.

Producer wont stop casting him in romance dramas because all his romance dramas are hits at China. Believe it or not, from One & Only, Forever & Ever and The Blue Whisper -- all are hits. And there are kissing scenes in Forever & Ever and The Blue Whisper. So, I dont see why people should stop casting him when he will kiss when the scenes required him to.

Its pretty normal for RJL dramas to be air dropped lol.

This is not a romance centered drama. The original Chinese title is 'Worry Free Ferry'. Just like all his last 3 dramas (Twilight, Burning Flames & Love of Nirvana) which is not romance centered if you actually watch them. 😬 The last heavy romance drama of his is The Blue Whisper with Dilraba and he has kissing scenes in them. All his romance dramas are hits at China -- from One & Only, Forever & Ever & The Blue Whisper. So, obviously why drama producers want him for romance dramas.

Its obvious the English title is just a bait. They love to put love in everything lol. Its obvious that there is going to be very little romance in here so I dont get the complaining. The original Chinese title is 'Worry Free Ferry'.

Unlike most dramas who prefer to put interesting/explosive contents on the first episode, this drama really took time with the introduction. It didnt really hooked me so I'm pretty worried. But by the time Episode 2 ended, I'm started feeling it and then Episode 3, I'm in, fully hooked. When they start giving more background mysteries on Banxia's dreams and also showing Xuanye's murdered family, yeah, I'm in for that kind of story. The script is pretty much straightforward (not the usual standard for Ren Jialun's usual scripts, imo) but its too early to tell -- I guess we will get more depth in the later episodes. But the overall premise is there and I'm actually compelled to keep watching once I got to Episode 3 as it got really interesting.

And the drama is unexpectedly funny at some parts. Like when Banxia calling Xuanye 'The one who rare rabbit! The one who rare rabbit~' And he was like 'I didnt rare rabbit!'. This kind of humour is totally my lane. 😂 And Xiao Ren (from Forever & Ever) is Xuanye's assistant! I always like their chemistry back then. :D

And I feel bad for Banxia. The fact that all her family members treat her like she is a 'boy who cried wolf' had me just because she can see all these demon and spiritual beings. And yes, Song Zu'er crying when the Dad passed away, its so good. I'm so glad she can make a comeback since she is after all a wonderful actress.

Okay, they hairstyles did bother me at the beginning but they are going for authentic Tang Dynasty hairstyles with the costumes as well. I started to get the aesthetic at the entertainment house when they show all these different ladies with elaborated Tang Dynasty makeup, hairstyles and costumes. And the CGI is pretty great! I cant wait till we reached the Red Dragon arc (?) later as can be seen during the ending credit animation.