The Blue Whisper: Part 2 (2022)

Visually, musically, emotionally - in Part 2, this show still hit all the right spots!

Like part 1, the audience also had much to enjoy in part 2, but unlike part 1, the lead-up to the ending was not as satisfying.

Echoing my review of part 1, TBW continued to deliver an engaging storyline. Add to that, the most touching song tracks and AMAZING acting from almost every cast member, this drama pulled me in so thoroughly, keeping me on an intense emotional rollercoaster. I was so emotionally invested, rooting for many, including the main couple, and cursing at the antagonists. Yet, I cannot help but feel sympathy for the villains. The story did well in making the audience understand what the characters, including the villains have gone through, the reasons for their actions, and their circumstances.

The story maintained a good pacing and flowed nicely, with each episode never losing its momentum. Having read the novel, a couple of changes in part 2 were for the better, some took away poignant moments for me, and my reaction to other changes was "WTH"?!! Still, I never felt tempted to skip, and I know I will rewatch the entire show once it is properly subbed in English because it was that good.

Also, I have to highlight the beautiful costume designs with their intricate and thoughtful details.

I have nothing but praises for the acting delivered by Dilraba, Ren Jia Lun, Xiao Shun Yao, Christy Guo, Wang Zi Teng, Hu Yi Xuan, Fan Zhen, Ci Sha, and many others. As the show progressed, these talented actors have proven that they have the acting chops to pull off a complex story.

Just when I thought I could not admire Dilraba further, it turned out that I could go up another level. Additionally, I am now a fan of Ren Jia Lun and Xiao Shun Yao. RJL's visuals are not my usual preference, but in this show, in that persona, he's gorgeous and captivated me. As for XSY whose character Lin Hao Qing was so well-written and well-acted, I suffered a strong case of second lead syndrome. Naturally, him exuding sexy manliness the whole time was also a factor.

For me, Wang Zi Teng as Kong Ming who received undeserved criticism for not being good-looking enough, was a great match for Hu Yi Xuan They did have a quirky, adorable chemistry between them. Also, a huge shout-out to Christy Guo who managed to make my blood boil so much, by staying maniacally in character to the very end!

Unfortunately, after building the momentum up so much, the final scenes were choppy and a letdown. The ending led a few to question whether it was an open or happy ending. I think it was clearly and definitely a happy ending.

Perhaps the director, who is known to have produced shows with controversial endings, was hoping to encourage and engage the audience's imagination by going for a conscious artistic act of intentional omission and suggestion. However, after reading the spoilers, I am more convinced that the director made a mistake in cutting out a crucial scene. To me, it was a result of bad editing.

On the whole, though, I highly recommend TBW. The storyline, the settings, the costumes, the choreography, the music, the acting…if I were to consider the show as a whole, it is really one that is worth watching.

Perhaps one day, the director will release a version with an alternate ending, including the cut-out scene. At that time, I will give the show a perfect 10 since it truly deserves that.

For posterity, I have recorded the main tracks here. I hope that they will release the entire album, including the instrumental background pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpzFy3Rzd74
Song: 留白是表白 (More Than Blanks)
Artist: 金志文 (Jin Zhi Wen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExRgy5Ry3C8
Song: 鮫人之歌 (The Song of the Merman)
Artist: 周深 (Zhou Shen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_pzD0itRfo
Song：#如你所想 (As You Wish)
Artist：#毛不易 (Buyi Mao)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtKnVuUxCN4
Song: 魚躍而上 (Leaping Fish)
Artist: 薩頂頂 (Sa Dingding)

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meh. fl acting is mid and theres no chemistry

story:
honestly the beginning was decent. storyline was clean and interesting, the romance was cute. and then it got complicated... and like the part where the fl was literally sick for like ten episodes was so boring because that's the only thing that they would show. the end was ok... kinda annoying tbh. also, when i watched the trailer it was giving me be vibes, but this drama barely made me shed a tear. the only times i actually cried was during some situations with the support roles. the main leads don't have chemistry so it's not sad..?
SPOILER:


i hate the fact that literally almost every single relevant person died and they some how came alive again? like sure happy endings yay whatever but it's so unrealistic. the main leads probably "died" like three times each.

acting/cast;
can't go wrong with 任嘉伦, his historical dramas are always good
however i don't rly like 迪丽热巴, her acting isn't that good in my opinion lol... her crying scenes don't really hit the spot, she has no chemistry with the ml... and it's not like this was the first drama i've watched with her in it. i've watched multiple others bcs of the rest of the cast, and her acting has always been kinda disappointing esp cause so many people like her. again this is my opinion, you might love her but that's not how i feel.

music:
毛不易 and 周深!! can't go wrong with any of them., the only reason i gave this a 9 and not a 10 is just because the quality of the drama made the music seem "worse" than other ost's, but the songs are still good, it's just the drama.

rewatch value:
nah i'm good

overall:
i know this drama has been pretty popular recently because of the cast, but it's giving like walmart 琉璃 (love and redemption). although i don't like both this fl and the fl in 琉璃, at least that one was actually sad. the only reason i ended up finishing this one is bc i have nothing else to watch rn LOL, i binged all of 且试天下's aired episodes in one day as well as some other dramas. this one is the only one where i'm like "eh i can stop here it's not that interesting anyways".
do what you will with this information.

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