Reviews

Quick and Uncomplicated Watch

I started watching this on a whim because I have been watching short(er) dramas lately and this seems to fit that category. Plus, I like shows centered around demons and all that jazz. The Fragments of Kylin was a short, mostly enjoyable watch, featuring a sweet and noble male lead, bubbly female lead, and fun side characters. I am neither amazed nor disappointed by this show because it wasn’t one of my highly anticipated ones and I wasn’t expecting much from it. While the female lead being bubbly did not bother me, I preferred her attitude and personality when she was in the demon’s realm. The Demon lord version of the female lead promised angst and pain, which I very much wanted, but sadly never got. Despite it being a lower budget show, they had some pretty costumes and even some of the CGI and OST songs were decent.

If you want a quick, easy, uncomplicated story with some funny moments, this is it. It’s perfect if you commute to work and just want some mindless fun while making sure no one talks to you.

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Story good. Characters to be desired

I watched the entire drama because it was funny, the story itself i thought was interesting and i liked that they added modern references to what is supposedly a historical fantasy drama. But throughout the entire thing, i just found the characters to be lacking and infuriating. There was no development of the villan’s character or the king’s brother’s character. Even by episode 23 you still dont know what is motivating the hate and/or desire. You can assume that its power, but nothing in the show indicates that or why they want that.

The one thing that is the cause for this low rating is the character of the princess. The actress did a wonderful job in portraying the character, I believe, but the character was just a contradiction. She’s supposed to be lovable, charming, and a free thinker, but all I got was narcissistic, selfish, and superficial. She never even tried to give the king a chance and was always just chasing after her own agenda. This character may not affect everyone, but for me, it was just infuriating to watch. I did not like her at all.

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Gritty and epic

This version, out of the numerous adaptations of the same Jin Yong saga, the “Legend of the Condor Heroes”, was the least popular amongst those made in the last 30 years.

However, this review was written with the hope that this version will receive more positive attention, as it was certainly deserving of it, being an earnestly and beautifully produced, directed and performed show which did the fantastic saga justice.

Plot:
Story-wise, this was one of the most faithful to the saga in the novels. It was also relatively well-executed. Hence, the plot, story and execution were the strengths of this adaptation. However, it was not without flaws as the show focused on certain parts of the story more than others, resulting in an imbalance (as per the story in the novels). If one was not too nit-picky, that was still one shortcoming which can be overlooked.

Particularly worthy of note was the period while the story was based in Mongolia. There was more emphasis on this phase of Guo Jing’s journey in this version than there were in the others, and the care taken were admirable. If there was an absolute I dare assert with regard to the adaptations, it was that the 2003 version had the best Mongolia-based-phase out of all existing adaptations, no ifs-or-buts about it. It was truly fantastic, even with the inevitable flaws.

Cast/Acting:
There were many criticisms and controversy with regard to the casting, especially for the main leads. However, while everybody had their own preferences for actors/actresses and their interpretations of the characters, personally, I found the acting and interpretations to be solidly competent and robustly interesting. I love the Huang Rong and Guo Jing here. Both the portrayals by Zhou Xun and Li Ya Peng were impressionable and highly memorable. They left their own marks on these classic characters.

The only main issue I had was with Yang Kang and his actor, whom I thought overacted most times. Still, he did well, just not really my cup-of-yes. The rest of the cast also did excellently and left a deep impression. I particularly appreciated the presence and gravitas some of the more veteran actors and actresses brought to the secondary characters, especially the more major characters of the wuxia masters.

Action sequences/CGI:
While there were some annoying overuse of CGI, overall, I thought the usage was appropriate for the scenes they were employed in, and did not unnecessarily overshadow the more traditional kungfu moves during the same action sequences.

Cinematography:
The cinematography here was simply breathtaking, with shooting locations spanning the breadth of China from the north to the south, giving a sense of deep realism to this version that moved me. In tandem with that touch of realism, the framing used also brought out the ethereal aesthetic of a black and white ink painting in many scenes, lending many scenes a sense of immersive beauty.

This version used a palette of muted and darker colours for its scenes, lending a dirtier, grittier and more epic feel to the whole show, which really matched the wuxia genre, I thought. Not only that, it lent a tinge of tragedy and bittersweetness throughout. While the story was a somewhat positive exposition on the journey of a patriot-hero, it was also a story littered with deaths and tragedies, and I applauded the show for not shying away from this sense of sadness through its visual presentation.

Costumes:
The costumes and set pieces utilised here could be considered simple and drab, but were actually custom made for the show based on historical records and the novels, and here too, the effort to be true to its source material and historical background was clearly shown.

Music:
While the tracks used here would have their work cut out for them in topping the nostalgic impact of the TVB adaptations’ theme songs, I never once thought it paled in comparison. The opening theme song, “Heaven and Earth Are in My Heart” was a marvelously epic encapsulation of the whole ‘hero’ journey, and the ending song, “True Love is Beautiful” was a lovely sentimental ballad which could well ensnare your audio senses. The musical score employed throughout the show was also suitably impressive - compositions which were predominantly classical Chinese instrumentals - elevating the impact of many scenes.

Conclusion:
This was the least pretty adaptation so far, with an intensity and realism that made it a more plodding viewing compared to other versions. However, it was the one which I thought captured most concisely the essence of the saga as written in the novels - from story, acting, backdrop, feels, props to cinematography - which was essentially a distillation of the idealisation of Confucian and patriotic values through the epic journey of Guo Jing. Hence, this version resonated deeply with me, and has remained my favourite out of all the ones I have had the pleasure to watch. It was truly a masterpiece worthy of its source material.

Choices:
If dark, gritty and epic is your cup of tea, the 2003 version is highly recommended.

If a slightly revisionist-story, specific/well-known actors/actresses and general prettiness are your preference, the 2008 version might be a good choice.

If bright, pretty, romance-weighted and ‘idol-ish’ are your preferences, the latest 2017 version would be a fine choice. This is quite a marvelous adaptation and relatively a faithful to the source material.

If a good story, wonderful acting, memorable OST, nostalgia and simple curiosity (as to why they were such beloved classics), the early-1980s TVB/HK-versions are a must.

The 1994 remake from TVB would also be a solid choice. Good performances and overall fabulous drama. (This was the series where I first fell in love with the saga and characters, and a well made adaptation which did not veer off much from the source material. Sometimes, first love doesn’t always leave the most lasting impression, and I am glad for that).

The 2024 adaptation had superb Wuxia vibes and was a relatively turbo-charged version of the saga as a whole. While there were some clear issues, it was nevertheless a highly entertaining watch. What made this adaptation special for me, however, is Ci Sha and his portrayal of Guo Jing. The 2024 version has my favourite Guo Jing and JingRong to date, and I am a fan who love all the Guo Jing and Huang Rong (also JingRong) I have ever watched.

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I finally finished this after like 2 years and I have to say WTF did I watch?

So the story is split into two parts. 1-17 and then 17-54. In 1-17 we follow the story of the princess in her home country in the latter her life in a diplomatic marriage to the neighbouring Wei. The story didn't make sense. This was based on a time travel novel so that part was changed and censored. It seemed like the adaption team didn't know what to do or that they went for something complex that got chopped on the editing floor. There were parts where the writing was great - the story of the second female lead was excellent, the last episodes were pretty good as were the first 17. So it's not that the writers were bad writers.

What they failed to do was to link the two stories together. Until the second last episode I was under the impression that the second segment was a "what if these two characters met in an alternate timeline". I'm actually still not sure that it wasn't the case. For me there's no way to link the Chuyu and the Rong Zhi of the first story to the later one. Basic stuff like if he's the regent or even just the brother in law of the Emperor of Wei there's no way he's going to hang out in the Princess' mansion in Liu Song just in the hopes of influencing the government there (esepcially not as a "concubine" lol). As for Chuyu - she went through a lot of shit in the first section there's no way she can be so clueless in the second. Anyway not linking those two or explaining it made it confusing and left the viewer spending a lot of their time trying to work out if the previous episodes had happened or not in the "new" environment. This made it difficult to focus on what was actually going on.

Pacing wise the story was fine for the first 17 and the last 4-5 episodes but everything else inbetween was filler and not very interesting (mainly because it was so confusing).

The second part of the problem was the acting. Rong Zhi is supposed to be this genius level schemer. Some people say the whole blank face that the male lead had for most of the drama was an example of his great acting skills and that it was in character. I say that's a load of ****. If you watch political/intrigue dramas you'll see that there can be cunning political operators who have the blank face. However always the viewer will be given an insight into them when nobody else is around (for example you'll see micro-expressions of them being worried/happy/etc). Sometimes this will carry over when they're with other characters they'll turn to pour the tea and they'll have some expression. The ML had nothing. Right until the very end nothing. At one point he cried and still had a blank face. They could have put a cardboard cutout there and it would have been the same. What makes it worse is that the actor can act, even back then. I don't want to get into spoilers but there's a part where he isn't Mr Blank so he does have skills. That said for me he failed to carry the role well enough (I think part of it too is age - he's the Prince Regent and he looks likes he's about 16 years old for most of it).

That was the other issue I had - casting. Especially for the second half. The cast is great don't get me wrong, however this drama suffered from a case of everyone should be young and good looking. The Prince Regent looks 16. The empress dowager looks like she's in her 20s tops. The emperor looks like he's in his early teens except his favourite consort looks like she's older than the empress dowager. They didn't try to add some grey or some fine lines or anything so it made things very confusing, especially when it came down to the interactions. If the emperor is just a teenager that's fine (obviously because he has a regent and that kind of thing happened historically) but why does his favourite consort look the same age as his mother? Why does he still have a regent if he's making most of the decisions and getting people pregnant? (At least there should be talk of - oh the regent will hand over at this time or when you reach your majority blah blah) Esepcially because there is tension in that area there should be some discussion of removing the regent from his post? (I wouldn't consider this a spoiler every regent/emperor is going to have some tension so don't read into it too much)

Now that I have the negatives out of the way...

Wow the props and costumes. Chuyu's clothes and accessories were gorgeous as was the open minimalist throne rooms/props. Not historically accurate but it was restful on the eyes and it was nice for a change. Kind of like they shot everything in a really fancy IKEA (those pale floorboards lol). I really love historical accuracy but it was clear that this drama wasn't going for that, so I liked that they changed things up and tried a minimalist aesthetic and made good use of the lighting crew.

The music was good, nothing jarring or out of place. Although personally there was nothing that drew me to listening to the OST again.

I would not like to rewatch again because it was confusing and mangled but at the same time I kind of want to rewatch again so I can try and work out what the hell was going on and if the stories were supposed to be connected or if they were a "if the two characters met in an alternate universe" thing. Luckily I don't have to rewatch as apparently there is a novel. Hopefully I'll understand what they were trying to do by reading that lol.

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Engaging Storyline, Strong Performances, Subtle Bromance, Cliffhanger Finale

"Towards the Truth" is a captivating thriller drama filled with mysteries and twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, this hidden gem seems to have flown under the radar, with fewer than 500 viewers on MyDramaList at the time of this review and even fewer ratings. It's no surprise that the overall score remains low, but that does not reflect the drama's true quality. With its solid acting, compelling storyline, and well-crafted scripts, it certainly deserves more recognition.

One possible reason for its low viewership and score could be the poor subtitle quality, as noted by some viewers. Given the complexity of the plot, accurate and coherent translations are crucial to understanding and enjoying the drama.

Storyline
Set during the Song Dynasty, the drama explores themes of injustice and corruption, focusing on the crimes of the wealthy and powerful who evade punishment through influence and nepotism. At its heart is Shen Song (played by Wang You Shuo), an exceptionally intelligent scholar who passes the imperial examination but clashes with the emperor, leading to his dismissal from court.

Struggling and downcast, Shen Song finds refuge with a kind constable who introduces him to his uncle, a restaurant owner. Shen Song then transitions into a skilled cook. However, his unique ability—a double iris in his left eye that allows him to peer into the past and uncover the truth—brings him back into the world of crime-solving. Though initially reluctant, he is forced to use his "gift" to investigate a gruesome crime involving over 60 corpses.

During this investigation, Shen Song meets Gong Sun Li (Zhang Chen Xiao), the son of a high-ranking treasury official. Gong Sun Li, despite his privileged background, is earnest, compassionate, and driven by a desire to fight injustice. Together, the two form a formidable team, joined by others, to crack cold cases and challenge the corrupt officials who enable societal inequality.

What I Liked
֎ Shen Song and Gong Sun Li: These two characters are the soul of the drama. Shen Song’s intelligence and moral compass, paired with Gong Sun Li’s unpretentious charm and unwavering integrity, make them incredibly relatable and inspiring. Their dynamic and camaraderie are highlights of the show, portraying mutual respect, care, and occasional humor.
֎ Character Depth: The drama does an excellent job of delving into the multi-faceted personalities of Shen Song and Gong Sun Li. Shen Song’s unique eye ability is used creatively to reveal his past, while Gong Sun Li’s relationship with his father showcases his complexity and personal growth.
֎ Themes of Justice: The exploration of systemic corruption and the struggle of upstanding individuals against societal rot is both thought-provoking and relevant.
֎ Humor and Pacing: Despite its serious themes, the drama incorporates moments of humor, particularly through its portrayal of government officials reluctant to challenge the status quo. Its fast-paced narrative ensures there’s never a dull moment.
֎ Brevity: At just 16 episodes, the drama packs a lot into its runtime without feeling rushed.

Areas for Improvement
While the central characters are well-developed, many of the supporting characters, including Qin Er (a supposed main character), feel one-dimensional. By the end of the story, her backstory and motivations remain largely unexplored, which is a missed opportunity to enrich the narrative.

Additionally, the sheer number of plots, subplots, and twists may overwhelm some viewers, particularly with subpar subtitles making it harder to follow.

Final Thoughts
"Towards the Truth" is a well-crafted drama with compelling characters, a gripping plot, and a strong message about justice and integrity. Its nuanced storytelling and fast pacing make it a thoroughly enjoyable watch. Despite its shortcomings, particularly in subtitle quality and character development for the supporting cast, it remains a highly underrated gem.

The enigmatic character who compels Shen Song to use his unique eye to uncover the past and solve cases remains shrouded in mystery throughout the drama. His/her true identity is only unveiled at the very end, leaving viewers with a tantalizing cliffhanger that sets the stage for further intrigue.

For fans of historical mysteries and thrillers, this drama is definitely worth your time. It’s a pity that it hasn’t reached a wider audience, but those who give it a chance will likely find themselves engrossed in its story and rooting for its upstanding protagonists.

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"Bound By Sin" is as sexy as the title itself!!

"The Longing catches me off guard,
To the Silent night, I surrender myself."

-OST of "Bound by Sin".
***
This drama had a dark melancholic feeling to it, a unexpected love-story carved inside threats of war. The soldier Fu Cheng is a man who strngly holds onto his principles and morals. Steadfast, devoted and fierce in his duty, the seductive and quite cynical heiress Ying Xian wants to break his will while hiring him as her bodyguard. She wants to see him lose the control he so carefully and stubbornly holds, but alas, they are fated. Instead of the passion she offers, he asks for her commitment in love. He loved her madly, but still refused to be a doormat for her to stomp on. That astounds her but made her respect him even more. They are a remarkable pair, both deadly in their own right and i am glad this drama was brought to my attention.

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Temperature of Love easily made its way to the top of my favourite webdramas list. From the very first episode to the very last, it tightly held my attention and even managed to grasp a hold of my heart. When I started the show, I expected it to be similar to A-Teen. However, to my surprise, it was much more than that. I found A-Teen to be a little random at times and it felt incomplete? However, Temperature of Love was nothing like that. It is a meaningful story filled with struggles, mistakes and learnings that most youth experience at the delicate age of 18. Each character in this show has his/her own purpose and I loved that they all got their story told. And so, as I progressed throughout the episodes, I couldn't help but fall for all the characters and almost feel like they were like my own friends. I learned so much from them, and so as I finished the last episode at the crack of dawn (yes, i woke up at 5 AM for this finale), my heart felt all warm yet I also felt sad as our journey together was coming to an end. This show made me reflect upon myself but also look back at my highschool years. I personally especially related to this show as I am 19 years old and feel the pressure of education everyday. Consequently, this show offered a lot of comfort to me. Rather than focusing on romance, this drama focuses on friends, and the pressure of education and society; all topics I think most of us can relate very well too. If you are looking for a meaningful watch filled with life lessons, this show would definitely be the one to start!

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I have to admit that going in, I did not have high expectations from the second season of I Need Romance. The plot seemed to be like too much of a rehash of the first season with themes of a long time relationship and the boredom that may set in a relationship of that kind or how when it doesn't advance to the stage of marriage, it may signal an inevitable end. And the thrill of a new relation with someone.
But this instalment of the INR franchise surprised me with its in-depth deconstruction of romances - what we do and expect from the person we love and how often we are torn between our feelings for two people and the mistakes we make. What a mature way to resolve a triangular love.
Hats off to the makers and I think I prefer this season over the first one.

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I only watched for the sizzle between ML/FL

Honestly, I only watched for the hot ML and the hot, steamy moments between him and FL. I didn't care about the family intrigue at all because it's the same ole revenge-based plot that never brings anyone any happiness. They get their revenge at the expense of their relationship (and in ML's case, his sanity) and end up more miserable than before. So, there's nothing new in this drama - I fast forwarded through everything but the hot moments. I didn't like any of the family members except perhaps Grandpa.

At first, FL wasn't worthy of a guy like ML - she had no backbone whatsoever - but she finally found some gonads and started acting like she might be worthy of such a cool dude. In the end, I liked her because she showed strength of character when needed, and she was clearly more stable than ML, emotionally and mentally. Yeah, he was badass cool but was hanging onto his sanity by his fingertips. This, viewers, is the result of a life based on getting revenge. Apparently, he needed to lose everything to come to his senses. And where were his buddies when he was falling apart? Chasing some chick. FL, of course, had to run to his rescue, even after he'd shredded her heart in the episode earlier. Nice to see that FL knows how to forgive.

And, of course, in true C-drama fashion, we had to break this couple up and try marrying ML off to a red-lipped, obsessed hag named Tang Lin. I had hoped we'd be able to avoid this obsessed chick/business marriage troupe, but, nope, right in the middle, the Chinese came through and used one of their favorite templates. I thought a ML of this caliber wouldn't allow himself to be pressured into a business marriage, but no, he walked right down the aisle and handed the hag her flowers. It was a sick copy of his first engagement with FL. I do applaud FL for, once again, finding a backbone and going and getting her man right in front of the red-lipped hag and guests. This shouldn't have happened and didn't need to happen. It was purely added to follow the angst template.

But wait! The stupidity and troupes are not over - in episode 20, we've got to go through the old 'your daddy (unintentionally) killed my daddy so I can't be with you' nonsense. Geez, I want to pull my hair out with this one! It's the stupidest reason for breaking up in the book. Quite frankly, ML gets what he deserves in the following scenes (near insanity) since he's so stupid as to throw away the woman who loves him because of something that happened in the past between their daddies. Honestly, dude, let it go, and your life wouldn't be a crap sandwich right now. Yes, seeing him in this state was heart-rending, but he brought a lot of it on himself by pursuing this grand revenge scheme of his. I understand being devastated by your family being killed/broken up but seek counseling, not revenge. There's healthier ways to deal with your grief.

As for the other couples, I could care less if the red-lipped hag found happiness with another guy. Honestly, I was hoping she'd throw herself into the ocean and drown. Yep, I'm heartless, but I've watched too many of these obsessed chicks to feel any sympathy. They have no self respect - clinging to a guy that pretty much detests you. I really don't understand these chicks - why live a life of misery with a man that feels nothing for you just for the sake of 'possessing' him? She goes on and on, shouting 'I like him! I like him!' Yeah, so what? I liked Harry Connick, Jr. in my youth, but I knew there was no hope of getting him so you accept it and move on. Some people are just unattainable, ok? As for the love triangle, I personally think the bestie ended up with the wrong guy. Yeah, I liked his personality better (upbeat, talkative and cheerful), but I preferred the quiet guy. He needed her more.

And let me ask you - why in 90% of these C-dramas is the evil mastermind behind everything a woman? I guess the Chinese culture (or at least the screenwriters and directors) agrees with Kipling who said 'The female of the species is more deadly than the male.'

Lastly, I'd like to give credit where credit it due. For once, the Chinese costume designer dressed FL with class, not like a multi-colored clown or twelve year old. And it's interesting that ML suddenly began wearing sweaters when he was in his soft and fluffy mode following his breakdown - nice use of clothing to reflect emotional state. But, dang, there's nothing hotter than a man in glasses who knows how to do the Superman tie tug! That, alone, is enough motivation to watch this drama.

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This drama is super sweet and cute and has a lot more heart then i thought it would cause the synopsis sounded pretty shallow.
Both the main characters are really likeable and the plot is quite simple but I wasn't bored at all watching it. The main character is a high school boy used to being adored by everyone who gets a bit of a reality check when the main girl doesn't agree to go out with him immediately. This is a common plot that I've always found a bit annoying because even if the guy eventually falls for her personality, for the majority of the time he was still a jerk. In this movie however, except for their first encounter, the main guy pursues her because he genuinely likes her and knows it too (it's not for his "hottest-guy-in-school-pride", which shows cause he just throws dignity out the window lol). The male lead is actually very selfless and kind and really good person. This later comes to his disadvantage, actually. Also, watching him become super awkward and more "uncool" as none of his confessions work is really funny and cute.

This is a short super cute show with a really nice ost, pretty cinematography, friendship feels and a really nice little love story. If you want to watch it I suggest watching the really short drama with the same name that acts as a prequel to this. You'll understand the plot better and get to see how much the main guy loves his friends and how he always helps them out as well as seeing his friend's own love stories, which are equally cute.

I totally recommend this if you want to watch something fluffy and sweet and feel-good. A movie with lots of heart. honestly.

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Here's a better summary for you: After an accident, the soul of Lee Hyeong continuously possesses the bodies of a wide range of characters. What these characters have in common is that they're all struggling with love. Lee Hyeong attempts to mend said love while in search for his own identity.

This is a fairly slow-paced movie, and it may be a great choice if you're having a peaceful weekend and you which to watch something that doesn't require a lot of focus. It is an enjoyable movie which may leave you feeling pleased and happy for all or some of the side characters - I say side characters because this is a movie that doesn't follow just -one- storyline; it moves from one couple to another, all as Lee Hyeong moves on to other bodies. Because of this, it felt more like watching a bunch of shorter movies than one movie as a whole. That said, I felt like it lacked a bit of a main purpose.

Yet again, I would recommend to watch it, for one of those calm evenings when you just want something to relax to.

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Best Modern Drama of 2020!

I normally don't watch modern dramas. Nor have I ever watched esport drama. In the case of Cross Fire, I made an exception: time travel, good CG between games and reality, and two good-looking youngsters as main characters. Who can resist?
Let's see how this drama do according to my criteria:

1. "Sleepness Night": 5/5 ★★★★★
I binged watched this drama from the very first episode to the end.
Cross Fire gives you the right kick for sure. It blends the right degree of suspense, drama with humor and romance. It's not only a esport drama but it is all the personal drama that makes this drama irresistible.
Especially, the 2008 timeline is one of the best-written storylines I have ever seen in C-drama land. 2008 is a year when playing the video game is being condemned as child play, a waste of time, worst, an evil addiction. Our ML Xiao Feng and his teammates overcame all kinds of difficulties and fight their way to the top of the first official competition in China. We have the honor to witness this struggle as if it is our own: fight for a dream only you, but no one else believes in. The endeavor is real, mixed with tears, sweat, and blood. No way, you can look away.

2. Emotional Rollercoaster: 5/5 ★★★★★
For me, both the MLs Xiao Feng and Xiao Bei have done a fantastic job in terms of acting. Their acting feels natural and never over the top. I did not know both of them when I started watching the drama; now I cannot wait for future works from these two.
In terms of romance both MLs have their own love lines, plus another one between two supporting characters Su Jia Yi and Wang Kai. All of them are depicted uniquely different, so there is a couple for every kind of taste.
Personally, there is this only one romantic kiss scene in this drama (not going to spoil which couple), is THE BEST kiss scene I have ever seen in a Chinese drama, and I am not kidding!

3. Natural and Intelligent Story Telling: 3/5 ★★★☆☆
On this criterium, I am quite torn. I love the 2008 storyline. The 2019 storyline has certain gaps which could have been improved, but overall still convincing.
However, the biggest gap of all is probably the logicality of time travel. There are two types of time travel: one type at which you can do anything in the past, which does not affect your own present, i.e. your own past remain as well as your memory of your past. The other type is whatever you do in the past could also affect your own present, i.e. your own history is changed at the same time and you lose all memories of the previous past. Cross Fire clearly depicts the second type. But there are countless scenes at which the viewer is confused whether we are at type 1 or type 2; or more like something between. The writer jumps between both types as he pleases to create drama. One notices that it is clearly not the makers' focus to make the story logical from a time travel perspective. In my opinion, this did not affect the drama's overall quality negatively.

4. "Loveable supporting Role": 5/5 ★★★★★
One reason why I rate this drama this high is because of the great characters in this show. Both playing team of 2008 and 2019 bring their unique characters who are portraited by great actors. I would be sitting here until tomorrow if I let loose talking about what I love about each of them. Cheng Hao, Chang Sha, Qi Ling, and An Lan are my favorite supporting characters. Especially, the character growth of Qi Ling and An Lan between 2008 and 2019 is extremely convincing.
Another supporting character I have to talk about is Xu Wei, the anti-hero of the show. I don't think I have ever liked an anti-hero this much as how I like Xu Wei. The story of how Xu Wei slowly developed from Xiao Feng's best friend to the biggest antagonist of this show is probably the best "Hei Hua" (becoming bad) I have ever seen in any C-drama. Finally, there is a writer who managed to convince the audience why someone would turn from good to bad. I have shed so many tears for Xu Wei at the end of the drama because I sympathize with this character.

5. "Proper Pacing": 4/5 ★★★★☆
With 35 episodes, it is not a long drama, and after finishing it, I wished there are more episodes. However, certain scenes, especially in the 2019 plot, felt slow and draggy. Certain drama between team members seemed slightly artificial as they happened out of nowhere. Proportionally, I wish the author spent more time showing the 2008 storyline. There are many scenes in which the viewers are eager to find out what happened next in the 2008 story but suddenly got cut by the inferior 2019 plot. That wasn't very pleasant. But overall, it is still great pacing compared to many C-dramas I have seen.

6. Technicalities: 5/5 ★★★★★
Another great aspect of this drama is the realistic game sequence at which they use the actual actors and models of the gaming world to realize the battle scenes. The (head)shots, using the right amount of CG are both realistic and suspenseful. It makes me want to know about the actual Cross Fire championship, which is certainly what the makers wanted to achieve. Most action battle scenes in this show are very well shot, with the right amount of slow motions, special effects and sounds. I also really like the songs, a few sung by Lu Han (who plays Xiao Feng) himself.

7. Solid Finale: 4/5 ★★★★☆
I really enjoyed the final games. However, the personal drama bit felt a bit unnatural. And I had to roll my eyes when China had to play against Japan in the final game. What a surprise! There was also a lot of propaganda about China's strength in professional gaming compared to the rest of the world. If not because of, I woud have given the finale a 5/5.

My final verdict: this drama has won a solid 10/10 in my heart. But because of some more rational scores, I give it a 9.5/10. If you love Shonen Jump kind of manga/anime of which Deep Friendship, Give Effort and Winning are the main themes, you are at the right drama. Don't miss it!


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Kotori's drama review seven criteria definition:

After having watched many dramas and also written several reviews. I have detected that I rate dramas based on specific patterns. I formulated those into seven criteria.
1. "Sleepless Nights.": how much I have the urge to binge-watch this drama.
2. "Emotional Rollercoaster": the degree of how much my heart was moving from the acting, scenes, and story development (e.g., in pain, pounding, fluster etc.). The degree on how much I care about the fate of the main leads.
3. "Natural and intelligent Storytelling.": how logically the story was able to proceed and the roles are acting within their characters. I don't have a thousand question marks when watching the drama. The feeling that the makers take us viewers seriously and that we do not always think that this looks fake.
4. "Loveable supporting Roles.": how much I love and care about supporting characters. They are not merely tools to help the main characters but are 3-dimensional and have the proper motivation behind their actions.
5. "Proper Pacing.": how well the drama is pacing and not watered down to fill the number of episodes.
6. "Technicalities": professional camera works and shots, fight scenes, color grading, lighting, editing, music, sets, costumes, use of CGI etc. I try to grade this in relation to the drama budget, so a low-budget drama can equally get a high score when used at the right place
7. "Solid Finale": how properly the drama builds dramatic and finishes with a satisfactory ending. I have just watched too many dramas that start to lose their grip around half or 2/3rd of its way.

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The series isn't perfect, but more than enough to satisfy my liking

I've read lots of reviews saying how this series is the "typical Thai BL" and yes it is.
However, that doesn't automatically mean it's bad.

Lately, I've been watching some heavy on heart and filled with drama kind of shows, so because of that, it was really refreshing for me personally to come across this light-hearted and sweet mini series, taking me back to the times, bringing me back the feeling I got when I first started watching romance dramas. The chemistry between the main leads isn't something to joke about and believe it or not it made me giggle like an absolute shameless idiot, but I don't regret that cus it was worth all that.

On the other hand, I do understand why some people might not think the same as me; as there were some scenes that could've definitely been improved and have been executed in a better manner. As for the plot it really was just a simple one, which didn't seem to be many peoples cup of tea. And neither was it mine, but I thought maybe I should give the series a go; making that the best decision I have done in a while.

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