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Lost in Dramaland
This review may contain spoilers
Most Romantic + Amazing Chemistry without much Physical Affection/Touching
9/19/2021
I've wanted to watch this drama when it first aired, but hold off until I can binge watch it. I was afraid the drama might not live up to my expectations or all the glowing reviews I've read. I am happy to say that, it deserves all the praise. It's so beautiful and heartbreaking that you can only recover knowing "Forever and Ever" is coming right up! I love Bai Lu and really liked Allen Ren in "Under the Power". They have so much chemistry; you love them so much and cry with them every step of the way. I can't wait to watch when they can live happily ever after thousands of years later.
What I like:
1. Bai Lu/Allen Ren - They ARE the show. Their chemistry is amazing. All the loving looks, torturous looks, longing gazes, side glances... all of them. As my headline stated, there isn't much touching or physical affection. There is no kiss. But I never feel the need for them to kiss (and I LOVE kisses, esp. Bai Lu's kisses). If there's a kiss, I think it might destroy the pure, innocent romance. I am happy with a few touches, and a few hugs (though they are all sad hugs). When I see tears welling up in their eyes, my tears start to fall with theirs. Bai Lu has to be the most beautiful actress when crying. She has such a natural, beautiful, heartbreaking look when she is crying. I've seen quite a few of Bai Lu's dramas, and I love her the best here. Allen Ren has equally expressive eyes and he has even less to say in words, but more with his actions and his eyes. Oh, I feel his regret for swearing not to get married. When you watch the BTS of them, you realize how great their acting is. They had so much fun and laugh so much, yet their characters are totally opposite.
2. Acting - Aside from our main leads, the supporting cast is quite good as well. Everyone acted naturally, even the villains. Over-the-top and cartoonish villains are one of my pet peeves, and I am glad we don't find that in this drama. The veterans actors are of course great, but the younger cast is quite good as well. I quite like Wang Xing Yue/Liu Zi Xing, even though he doesn't have too many scenes.
3. Cui Shi Yi (FL) - I really like Shi Yi's character, our female lead. She is shy and reserved, but smart and brave. She is not a pushover and will speak up (or sign) for what's right and just. She is not afraid to show her affection for ML and is often the one that initiates any physical affection. She might be shy, but she's straightforward and honest about her feelings and communicates well with ML. I really like her as our female lead.
4. Allen Ren in Uniform - I know this is vain, but Allen Ren looks like a prince in white and dashing/fearless when he's in black. Just looking at his face, I don't find him super attractive, but when he's in a historical drama and wearing a uniform, he just oozes charisma and charm. I felt the same way watching in "Under the Power".
5. Fight Scenes - I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy the fight choreography and scenes in this drama. There is no slow-mo spinning or close-up of the actors' faces. No useless posing in front of the camera in the middle of the fight. The fights scenes are better than some I've seen in wuxia dramas.
6. *SPOILER* Episode 16 - this is my favorite episode. It's one of the more heartbreaking but super romantic episode. We have the death of a teacher/father figure. Our leads just spent a little couple time together to heal each other and then we got the announcement of FL's marriage again. The scene when FL tried to touch ML's nose, and he leaned forward and let her touch him.... my heart. That's one of the most romantic scenes ever esp. because we know what will happen to them in the future.
What I don't Like (nitpicking here):
1. BGM - The background music is a little tad loud for my taste. However, when the dialog resumes, the music is toned down and I can listen to what the actors are saying.
2. Sign Language - it seems like even some people who don't know FL well or long can understand her sign language?
3. *SPOILER* FL's ending - It's a little unrealistic that she was so heavily guarded for so long, yet when she walked off by herself to go up the tower, no one followed her? Only that one general who knows what's happening. But what about the other guards, maids, etc.? Literally no one until the King comes?
Other observations:
1. OST - There are a few songs in this drama and they all sounded beautiful. I'm happy that they are not played all the time but only as needed. The BGM also complements the scenes well.
2. It seems like no one is getting a happy ending in the romance department, not even the supporting cast. This has got to be the only drama I've seen that no one ends up happy. I wish they all live happily ever happy in "Forever and Ever".
I've wanted to watch this drama when it first aired, but hold off until I can binge watch it. I was afraid the drama might not live up to my expectations or all the glowing reviews I've read. I am happy to say that, it deserves all the praise. It's so beautiful and heartbreaking that you can only recover knowing "Forever and Ever" is coming right up! I love Bai Lu and really liked Allen Ren in "Under the Power". They have so much chemistry; you love them so much and cry with them every step of the way. I can't wait to watch when they can live happily ever after thousands of years later.
What I like:
1. Bai Lu/Allen Ren - They ARE the show. Their chemistry is amazing. All the loving looks, torturous looks, longing gazes, side glances... all of them. As my headline stated, there isn't much touching or physical affection. There is no kiss. But I never feel the need for them to kiss (and I LOVE kisses, esp. Bai Lu's kisses). If there's a kiss, I think it might destroy the pure, innocent romance. I am happy with a few touches, and a few hugs (though they are all sad hugs). When I see tears welling up in their eyes, my tears start to fall with theirs. Bai Lu has to be the most beautiful actress when crying. She has such a natural, beautiful, heartbreaking look when she is crying. I've seen quite a few of Bai Lu's dramas, and I love her the best here. Allen Ren has equally expressive eyes and he has even less to say in words, but more with his actions and his eyes. Oh, I feel his regret for swearing not to get married. When you watch the BTS of them, you realize how great their acting is. They had so much fun and laugh so much, yet their characters are totally opposite.
2. Acting - Aside from our main leads, the supporting cast is quite good as well. Everyone acted naturally, even the villains. Over-the-top and cartoonish villains are one of my pet peeves, and I am glad we don't find that in this drama. The veterans actors are of course great, but the younger cast is quite good as well. I quite like Wang Xing Yue/Liu Zi Xing, even though he doesn't have too many scenes.
3. Cui Shi Yi (FL) - I really like Shi Yi's character, our female lead. She is shy and reserved, but smart and brave. She is not a pushover and will speak up (or sign) for what's right and just. She is not afraid to show her affection for ML and is often the one that initiates any physical affection. She might be shy, but she's straightforward and honest about her feelings and communicates well with ML. I really like her as our female lead.
4. Allen Ren in Uniform - I know this is vain, but Allen Ren looks like a prince in white and dashing/fearless when he's in black. Just looking at his face, I don't find him super attractive, but when he's in a historical drama and wearing a uniform, he just oozes charisma and charm. I felt the same way watching in "Under the Power".
5. Fight Scenes - I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy the fight choreography and scenes in this drama. There is no slow-mo spinning or close-up of the actors' faces. No useless posing in front of the camera in the middle of the fight. The fights scenes are better than some I've seen in wuxia dramas.
6. *SPOILER* Episode 16 - this is my favorite episode. It's one of the more heartbreaking but super romantic episode. We have the death of a teacher/father figure. Our leads just spent a little couple time together to heal each other and then we got the announcement of FL's marriage again. The scene when FL tried to touch ML's nose, and he leaned forward and let her touch him.... my heart. That's one of the most romantic scenes ever esp. because we know what will happen to them in the future.
What I don't Like (nitpicking here):
1. BGM - The background music is a little tad loud for my taste. However, when the dialog resumes, the music is toned down and I can listen to what the actors are saying.
2. Sign Language - it seems like even some people who don't know FL well or long can understand her sign language?
3. *SPOILER* FL's ending - It's a little unrealistic that she was so heavily guarded for so long, yet when she walked off by herself to go up the tower, no one followed her? Only that one general who knows what's happening. But what about the other guards, maids, etc.? Literally no one until the King comes?
Other observations:
1. OST - There are a few songs in this drama and they all sounded beautiful. I'm happy that they are not played all the time but only as needed. The BGM also complements the scenes well.
2. It seems like no one is getting a happy ending in the romance department, not even the supporting cast. This has got to be the only drama I've seen that no one ends up happy. I wish they all live happily ever happy in "Forever and Ever".
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