The Blood of Youth

Continuing the saga

Finishing this after second tries. For someone who is new to the series, I was one of the watcher who watched Dashing Youth first and decided to watch TBoY after knowing it was some sort of sequel for DY. I quite love the DY (who wont? what with all the eye candies we were spooned fed with there? lol), but my first attempt to watch TBoY was quite disheartening at first. The first maybe 10 episodes were quite slow and the eye candy were quite lacking compared to the DY. lol. I left the series for a while before taking it up again and I am very glad I did it. Though the first few episodes were quite slow and just like DY, where there were so many characters being introduced time and time again, making it quite a task to continue. At least, coming from DY, some of the characters I actually already know, just needed to refamiliarise myself with the new version from what I know. The plot was fine enough and quite a flow from someone coming from DY.

Now, on to the leads. This is my first drama of LHY. Took me some time to get attached to LHY's visual and acting, his handsomeness for me is of the type that, the more you saw him, the more he appears more handsome. His character is also quite prudish and cold at first, so it is getting me a while to warm up to him. But by the end of the series, I was getting quite attached to his Xiao Se character and even though his power seems to getting more powerful without that much effort from him (lol), his final fight with Luo Qingyang was quite awesome. I was laughing when he ended up using Wujie's idea of insulting the melancholy sword after literally calling it a dumbass idea. lol. Wuxin, on the other hand was such a funny shameless brat, and I was quite entertained by his character, though he was quite kinda fade into the background towards the end. It seems like Lei Wujie was a more important character in the series rather than Wuxin. Coming from Lei Mengsha in DY, no wonder everyone was talking about how it made sense Lei Wujie was as he was. lol. He really took after his father (or rather, LMS did a good job acting as he is in DY, making it a fine prequel for TBoY.)

Romance was aplenty with so many characters' relationship but it was only on the surface, it seems that they only like to focus on the martial arts and brotherhood theme for the series, and the romance trope was only sprinkled there as an afterthought. I cant really seem to get along with the romance between Xiao Se and Sikong Qianluo that well, the vibe was just wasn't vibing I guess. lol. The whump was also quite nice, though it seems like every one healed so fast after almost losing their lives. lol

Costumes for ML was nice and shuai, I have no problem with that. Though all the other characters got so and so costumes only. CGI was good enough not to appear too cheap, and the fight and battle seems quite believable. Tang Lian's death mourning was quite well done, I would like to be remembered like that as well if it was me. OST was so and so, nothing that stands out too much to me.

All in all, it was a nice (old) sequel in the saga and worth to watch. Hopefully I can see LHY again in something like this.

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A mix of really good and confusingly bad.

This was a difficult to rate drama, because it was both impressively good and also confusingly bad. I would divide it into first two thirds good, last third missed the mark. What really worked in this drama were the central characters and their relationships. Throughout the scenes which were set outside Tanqi, there was a compelling story which involved the building of their relationships. It was the heart of the drama and provided an anchor for the whole narrative.

As a viewer I needed this anchor because the raft of characters that were introduced was extremely confusing. I found that I could just about keep up with which sect they belonged to, and the costuming helped here, but really lost it at times in terms of who was allied to whom and the history of the various characters’ interactions. As a result, I felt like I was tossed on the waves and in danger of drowning some of the time.

However, when the focus of the story moved to Tanqi, about two thirds through, the anchor was also set adrift. The intrigue plot simply felt like it got out of hand and was a force on its own, dragging the writer and the characters along with it. Somewhat like the effect of too much power in the hands of someone not big enough to contain it. The interactions between the main characters were disrupted and their appearances seemed to be reduced to matters of convenience, destroying the strength of the drama in the process. In fact one character was parked up in a weird sub-plot for virtually the whole of the last third.

There’s a lot that could be said about many other things, but there are also a lot of great reviews already written that discuss them, so I’ll keep this short. Just two points; when my favourite character was lost in the tea house, I was just gutted. I couldn’t go on for quite a while and I’m never going to forgive the writer. RIP. And secondly, did anyone else think that the romance interest was set up wrongly and they should have just swapped partners? I couldn’t find any reason to pair them up in that way. It made no sense and very little chemistry.

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Looking forward to season two

I'm two years late to this party and there are lots and lots of reviews here so my review will very probably get buried here. Nonetheless, I do want to write out my review even if very few people will read it. Here we go.

Overall, this drama is very enjoyable. Stupid dumb funny at times, with some really powerful moments, a pretty good storyline, extraordinarily handsome cast and incredible acting. I feel dumb for letting it simmer in my to watch playlist for so long, my online friend nudged me to watch it. Maybe it's because she presented this drama to me as "friends roaming the martial arts world with cool martial arts" that I expected something a little different. However, I still think the plot has quite some room for improvement.

I think the writers could've easily pushed this drama for even 60 episodes if they kept the spirit and flow. The storyline felt a little rushed, jumping forward three months here, one month there. I mean yes, we can't have a detailed report as a cut screen, but these fast forwards in the storyline line were put in quite often. Xiao Se, Lei Wujie and Wuxin promised each other to roam the martial arts world together and it lasted for like 5 minutes. I think this part definitely should've been longer. Wuxin and the white haired deity from Tianwantian should've appeared on Xiao Se's journey more often and overall could've had a separate story line which would occasionally intertwine with the main group. Wuxin gave Xiao Se and Lei Wujie two of his martial arts only for those two to use them minimally. Especially the Abysmal Eye should've and could've been used better. I loved the hell out of Mu Chunfeng, this part was really great. I think the storyline should've spent a longer time in the Lei Fortress. How dare they cast such a handsome actor for the new lord of the Lei Clan and give him such a short appearance. The audacity lol. The storyline of Lei Hong and Li Hanyi dissipated into thin air, especially since Zhao Yuzhen died. I think this love triangle was unnecessary. Fairy Luoxia and her disciple storyline felt a little pressured, we could've done without it (or made it longer with more episodes). I hated that we lost Tang Lian, Zhao Yuzhen's death was enough. I think that Tang Lian could've been made into the drugged puppet instead of Wuxin, although it was a very Wuxin thing to become a drugged puppet. But on the other hand, we wouldn't have had the grand scene of Lian's memorial, that scene was mind-blowing and breathtaking. The Tianqi city story and "fight" for the throne felt a little hassled. Twenty minutes ago, three friends wanted to have fun and now we're in an imperial fight, where did the time fly to? And this is why I think this drama would've benefited from more episodes. Just take it easier with the same flow, I'm sure the writers would've made it as incredible. I really loved the last two episodes, no tacky words, no forced happy end and marriage, just really ending on a good note and open for furthering the story. I just hope that if season two will be made into reality, that it will exceed this season. Or at least be equally enjoyable.

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An Addicting Wuxia Fantasy Drama with Spectacular CGI and Bunches of Superb Characters

Well, I'm supposed to write this review a long time ago, but I'm just... to lazy to write because I've forgotten most of the key scenes in the show. However, watching 'Dashing Youth' has encouraged me to do so. Sorry for the late review, guys...

This show revolves around the F6 of TBOY (Xiao Se, Lei Wujie, Wu Xin, Sikong Qianluo, Tang Lian, and Ye Ruoyi) as they traverse the jianghu world. As you can see, the storytelling and the story's pace are directed well. I really like the first half of the show when they are travelling through the jianghu. However, things start to turn over as they delve into the political intrigue. I admit I skipped a lot of scenes, especially the emperor, the princes, the pathetic eunuch, and also Yi Wenjun's.

My favorite characters will always be Wujie and Tang Lian - I adore them very much and wish they had more screentime instead of the sly little fox Xiao Se. I have no problems with the female leads - they're likeable haha. However, I don't like Wu Xin as much as everyone does - I don't know if it is just me or is anybody feeling the same.

CGI, costumes, and props are crafted exquisitely and look high-budget.

Nevertheless, a ten out of ten for me. I've rewatched for the third time and definitely will recommend it for those who love wuxia with a tinge of fantasy element in it. I'm currently watching 'Dashing Youth' and see if the prequel lives up to the sequel's reputation. I'll cover up 'Dashing Youth' review when I'm done watching. Good luck!!!

Note:
There are bunches of characters that you will need to remember from time to time in order to grasp the story.

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Spectacular display of friendship

When I first started watching TBOY, I dropped it after the first episode as it did not appeal to me. A year later I stumbled upon this show again and decided to give it another try and I am glad I did. Storyline was amazing for the front half of the show but it starts slowing down a little in the later half when politics and palace affairs start playing a big role in the plot. It is still watchable as there are still incorporations of fight scenes and martial arts. There is a balance of humour and seriousness in the show. One thing about the show that I find it amusing is Wuxin is supposed to be around 18 years old in the show but I keep forgetting about it due to the casting of the actor that plays this role. He looked more 28 than 18 years old. Other than that TBOY is a good watch and would definitely rewatch it when I have the time, can’t wait for season 2 to start filming and hope to see more of the group exploring the martial arts world in the second season.

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One of the great cdramas out there

I started getting immensed in the story from episode 25 to end. It was awesome. Episode 27 gave me goosebumps. The main lead grew on me and I really like his character. If there's season 2, I will surely watch.

Xiao Yu's death is inevitable because his mom Wejun is as pathetic as when she's portrayed in Dashing Youth. Just a pushover.

The novel author might have hated happy ever afters. Yue Yao and Zhao Yuchen's deaths aren't poetic but frustrating. I mean almost all couples have dead partners.

Wuxin's character wasn't given justice. But understandable since it's the story flow. Xiao Se's refusing the emperor role is also understandable. As emperor, he will have a harem, restricted to the palace, battling conspiracies and wars. As he said, it's boring. He is a powerful man so he belongs in jianghu.

Overall I really liked TBOY. I watched Dashing Youth as well. They are both awesome. Although I like DY a little bit more since it's more fun than TBOY.

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Entertaining

I finally had a chance to watch this and was not disappointed. I liked the overarching storyline but admittedly had to rewind periodically to understand who some of the new characters and subplots inserted throughout the first half of the series were. But what kept me watching was the entertaining dynamics of the bond/friendship development and humorous interactions of the 3 main characters Xiao Se, Wu Xin, and Lei Wu Jie. I also enjoyed the fact that the female characters were also powerful fighters. Almost every episode was action filled. The love connection between Xiao Se and the female love interest wasn’t very strong. The music matched well with the scenes - there’s a a couple in particular that I really like. Perfect casting of the 3 main ML’s: Li Hong Yi’s calm, cool and elegant demeanor, Ao Rui Peng’s silly, naive, and high-energy, and Liu Xue Yi’s serious and domineering presence.

Overall - very entertaining and will be on my rewatch list.

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Wuxia series lovers will be spoiled with good martial arts scenes

At the beginning of the story, our eyes have been spoiled with scenes of martial arts with cool CGI effects, lots of kung fu fight scenes. The theme of the story is already visible, namely the Power Struggle to become Emperor but the characteristics of the wuxia series are also still highlighted. All Characters from the Kingdom are described as proficient in martial arts Kungfu, this was a combination of the royal world and the martial world, it's a shame between the middle and the end of the episode the martial arts scenes are reduced but the kung fu martial arts fight at the end of the story is quite epic. The series features more friendship than love relationships between the characters, If you are a lover of romantic historical stories, don't expect to see sweet romantic scenes between ML and FL. At first, I thought that there would be a lot of amazing strategic battle scenes, but until the end of the story, I saw that strategy battles were still not that exciting, little bit of plot twist. the acting of all the male actors is good but the acting of all the female actors is not good maybe because of the demands of the scenario. For fans of the Wuxia series, this is worth watching

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Balance well

Drama is good and enjoyable to watch.
Ml is pure and innocent and also have high iq.

Fighting skill is amazing.
CGI is good.
Characters develop nice.
Story is good.
Adventure nice.

This drama is balance about morality and society well.

you can kill a person but you can't kill loyalty and honest and also honour.

This is good drama and it focus on relationships base on value of loyalty and respect.

The ml lose everything but he didn't lose his loyalty so he gain his power back and also lot of friends to journey with him.

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Shonen to its core; rewatchable feel-good show

NOTE: I consider a score of 5 average, therefore my score of 8/10 is very high.

Mostly wanted to write this review after watching the anime, which is apparently closer to the webnovel, and rewatching this for the first time in preparation for the prequel (Dashing Youth). This is only the 2nd show I've ever rewatched, so take that as a very high compliment.

Overall, given the government constraints of 40 eps max, I think the pacing and execution of the webnovel plot (several hundred chapters long) is actually superior to the source material. There are pivotal moment rewrites and rearrangements (Xiao Se's identity reveal, the first time Xiao Se uses his powers again, Wuxin's return, the appearance of important characters such as the 2 other princes, etc.) that are much more impactful in the drama than in the anime/novel because of their timing/writing. Huge kudos to the screenwriter for cleaning up the OG plot and orchestrating everything so much better.

The introduction of the overarching imperial palace plot is brought in earlier and integrated much more frequently, and keeps you hooked through the first half to see how it develops. Because of this early sprinkling, the transition from being mostly wuxia/jianghu-heavy to court politics feels very smooth, and as someone who watches mostly wuxia/xianxia and historical/court politics dramas, this is one of the most well-executed shows that balances the two nicely. I first watched this shortly after watching Nirvana in Fire and craving something that was slightly more wuxia-heavy but still had enough plotting to be satisfying, and although the tone of this show is incredibly different from NIF, the combination of those two elements here satisfied that craving. Also a rare thing to see within the genre is such a well done generationally balanced cast--the young and older generations are equally important and present in the story, and actual older actors/actresses play older characters, which is sorely needed in the idol drama genre.

I think if you approach the show as a live action version of a shonen anime/manga (少年 is literally in the title of the show, lol), i.e. not too grim-dark, where the power of friendship and justice always prevails, and everyone gets their magical cure and happy ending, then you'll be in for a very fun ride. It's true that there are very frequent and fast character introductions of many, many characters, which is why I also rated the rewatch value so highly, as you'll understand and appreciate much better who everyone is talking about and how it ties in with other aspects of the plot.

Minor notes:
- They somehow cast almost everyone to be very similar to their anime appearance, the major difference being Xiao Se. I haven't read the webnovel, but assuming the anime characterization is closer, I'd also say that Xiao Se's characterization is very different in the drama compared to the webnovel/anime. In the latter he's more laid back, expressive, talkative, and extravagant(?)(pretentious?), while in the drama I'd describe him as more direct, impassive/inscrutable, short/reticent, and irritable. I'd say they're both equally sarcastic/quick-witted/judgmental, but just in different flavors. The drama version makes him feel more childish at times but I personally think that makes him more likeable. Just a word of warning so you don't go into the anime/novel expecting the same Xiao Se.

- If I could, I'd rate the costuming as 10/10--some of the outfits stick closely to the anime for good reason (e.g. Lei Yun He--PEAK), but other times it surpasses it.

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