First surprise of the year
I always run from modern c-dramas, but this caught my attention because of the game, which I thought was gonna be a bigger part of it than it actually is, but it wasn't, and it kinda disappointed me, and the lead actors, whom I know from previous works and really like. Even though it's full of the cliches that make me don't go near modern c-dramas (unnecessary big dramatic moments, past connection, annoying nosy family, side characters I don't give a shit about), it's absolutely worth it for the lead characters and their story and chemistry. The writing isn't the greatest or a never seen before type, but the romance is top tier.Was this review helpful to you?
A downfall to be studied
It all started so well, from their childhood, to their teenage years, to their reunion and first kiss. Then it all went downhill. I get that the writers wanted to explore why the FL came back, her career, and the ML's past, but their dynamic suddenly changed completely. Their relationship became so poorly developed. One episode she was calling him her boyfriend (how did he even become that?), then the next it was clear that nothing between them had actually been resolved. Her ex showing up, and almost all of their interactions seeming to exist just to make the ML jealous because the writers simply gave up on developing their relationship, was the icing on the cake for me to drop the drama.I really tried to keep watching because I loved this couple, both in and outside the drama, but it was boring the fuck out of me. Such a shame to ruin something with so much potential.
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Already the best pairing of the year, and it's March
I'll remember this drama for its first 20 episodes, which were genuinely thrilling. After the story moved to the battlefield and the capital, though, it started to lose direction. To be fair, the director did the best he could, especially since I've heard the novel which the drama is based on isn't that good.I probably could've rated it a 9 based on the pairing alone. Zhang Linghe has never looked better, and this is my first drama with Tian Xiwei, who I came to like a lot. The chemistry was excellent, and I'd blush, laugh, and even get emotional at the same time when she was a butcher and thought he was a deserted soldier, but it took real effort to finish because I was so bored by the end, so I'll settle on a 7.5.
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Bad writing, excellent lead characters
For a drama that relied heavily on romance, I was expecting a better ending and at least a prologue about their married life together, but I guess I'll just be content with the fact that they ended up happy and together. The writing was poor, which is a shame because it had so much potential. The stories of those who came before them, especially her aunt and his uncle, were interesting, but the writers had no idea what to do with them. The editing at the beginning of the drama would sometimes give me a headache because it would just cut abruptly from one scene to another and make you wonder what the hell was happening. All the characters, with the exception of the leads, were plain stupid. You just had to ignore it and believe that a teenage girl was doing everything alone and outsmarting everyone while the elders just watched. But oh boy, it was worth it. Zhaozhao and Mu Qingyan's characters and love story were everything, and I would've watched more episodes of the writers not having a slight idea of what they were doing just because of them. To simplify it: if you're looking for good writing, this drama might not be for you, but if you're capable of putting everything aside for an excellent couple, go ahead.Was this review helpful to you?
Disappointed, but already expected it.
I'd always heard great things about this drama, but I always avoided it because I don't really like family-centered stories. I decided to give it a chance as soon as I found out there was romance, but there was so little of it that I ended up disappointed. The drama focused way more on family conflicts and things I just wasn't interested in. Honestly, it even felt like the side characters had more screentime than one of the male protagonists at some points. A lot of things were also badly developed, especially Ling Xiao's trauma and his relationship with his mom. She suddenly changed and accepted everything out of nowhere, which felt rushed and unrealistic. The ending for Jianjian and Ling Xiao was disappointing too. Their romance was the main reason I started watching, yet we barely got to see them together. It had some great moments, and I cried and laughed, but the feeling that stays is the disappointment of finishing a drama that could've been exceptional.Was this review helpful to you?
