Dashing Youth

topped the list

I loved the drama! to be honest I liked it more than I liked blood of youth. this drama had a strikingly fine balance of everything and the fight scenes..the special effects..the colours.!!! also what an ensemble....the cast was great too! a good plot with entertaining characters. Despite knowing the bittersweet ending that awaited me , I blew through the 40 episodes. They indeed had a 'dashing youth' and as viewer you would wish same as their master for these disciples to lead carefree, happy lives in martial world. unfortunately, much like previous generation they too can't break away from clutches of noble cities and wicked royal family (roufeng is the exception and not the norm ). baili donjun was a great protagonist, and ye dingzi was a sweet soul who deserved better. two platonic soulmates.

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It's worth it , Give it a try

watched 25 eр

now it is going in to my favourite list loving it so far now going to rewatch blood of youth

captivates with its ensemble of strikingly handsome young men, each bringing both charm and depth to their roles.

The dialogue is sharp and engaging, with a natural flow that enhances the realism of the interactions. The attention to detail in set design and costume further immerses into the world of the show, adding layers of visual interest that complement the narrative.

captivating drama that offers a blend of emotional depth, realistic portrayals, and compelling storytelling.

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Better Than Expected.

Dashing Youth is a prequel of The Blood of Youth, which I personally became interested before. Some might say that it's better if you watch this first before TBOY, I agree, it's literally the start of everything. But also, I understand those whose glad that they watched TBOY first before this one, it's like a throwback in everything that happened in TBOY and an answer in why things that happened in TBOY, happened. But in my case, luckily, I haven't finished watching TBOY when I discovered Dashing Youth, because for me, it's better to start from where all things have happened.Sadly, I already knew that Ye Dingzhi died because it was already told in TBOY, that's entering this series was a bit of a road for me knowing that I will truly root for his character. 

With the casting being one of the most beautiful line of actors is a plus points for me. I love how the Eight Young Masters of Beili have their own distinct classifications and power that make them unique from each other. I love Xiao Ruofeng so much, his vibe at first was a bit off for me, but once this man smiled, I knew he is a good man, like what the people around him always tell him, he's too kind and nice. Neo Hou is very good at playing as Baili Dongjun, from the first time I watched him, he definitely improved in his acting. But I want to give my full applause to He Yu, he gave Ye Dingzhi justice. I root for his character, even though I question his decisions sometimes. I just hope that Xia Zhiguang's Sikong Changfeng was given more screen time, but overall, he's character was engaging and his chemistry with Baili Dongjun is amazing.  The overall set up of this serie are good, CGI is always on-point. But I kinda hate some aspects about the obvious green/blue screen. Like I know they can make it better when it comes to the editing. Also, its a bit disappointing because I feel like all the fight scenes of this show mostly relies on CGI, like we don't get to see more of the moves of our characters. But overall, it worked so good one on that part. 

But here's one thing that was a huge let down of this series; the love line, the romance. To be honest, I am really not a huge fan of romance inclined series, especially when it comes to hanfu/wuxia dramas like this that focuses on roaming around martial arts world. Some series made it work, like there is a hint of romance, yet it doesn't overpower the real purpose of the show. But this one is not the case. The romance made it all worst, especially in Ye Dingzhi's case. Come to think of it, you're one of the strongest the martial arts world can have, but your life will be a wasted because of a lady who doesn't even know how to fight for herself. Imagine, everything was because of you? It honestly pisses the hell out of me. I moved or skipped a lot of times because of how some ladies in this show doesn't make any sense, at all. Only Lei Mengsha's wife and Baili Dongjun's lover have, somehow, a purpose here as a lady of a man. The rest, just ruined it, for me. 

The ending. The ending is perfect for me, esp when you haven't watched TBOY, it's a good opening for everything. Some may say that it's an open ending but for me, it's perfect. Even though I am sad about Ye Dingzhi's death, his death represents a lot of aspects. 

Overall, this series is good. Not the best but definitely not the worst. Still lacks in a lot of aspects, and as someone who watched a lot of hanfu/wuxia drama, this is a mediocre one. A good watch, still.

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2 words for this drama," DIS-CURSS-TING SHIYYYT" ~ in Lee Min ho accent (TLOTB)

honestly in the beginning when i was around ep 20 i wanted to title my review are 'TALE OF FRIENDSHIP AND YOUTH' ...
then i wanted to change it to "A NARUTO TO EVERY HOPELESS AND LOST SASUKE" .. but in the end i chose the one i have written 👆☝️ .. why ? cause i was beyond myself with rage after completing this drama. i mean even though the hypocrisy shown in this story was ironically real but why they wasted viewers time with heavy moral poetic dialogue commentary ...
anyways lets dive deep into the whole thing:

things about the drama that were good :

1) Immensely talented cast : say there were a lot of handsome faces and the cast of this show is huge .. for a fact that they introduced on an average 3-4 new characters in every new episode made it difficult for the viewers to keep a track of their names. but as far as the core cast is consider .. every actor is talented and good pick for their role, all of the delivered a REFINED performance.

2) breath taking VFX and cinematography : i was actually following this shows BTS on Hou MingHau's and other actors weibo account at the time of its shooting , there were videos of them performing action sequences using wires/ropes in front of the green screens .. now while watching the finished result .. i was shocked to see how realistic everything looked .. from dragon avatars to peach blossom petal dance ... everything was so clean and life like. funtastic editing .. camera placements and movements.

3) stunning outfits and impeccable styling : though the attire themed ancient but the detailing with embroidery and accessory gave them timeless look.

4) captivating background music : the OSt was the best .. there was a beautiful soft romantic song by Hou MH himself .overall the music of this drama was impressive.

5) friendship was the main theme while romance added depth to it.

6) chemistry between the leads was unique then the regular ones .. it wasnt passionate or born out of chaos , but peaceful and calmly understanding between the partners.

now lets talk about main character:

1) Baili dongjun: carefree (not careless) boy from family of duke/nobles wanted to become liquor expert (deity) but in his path of doing so he gets tangled in some affairs and end up becoming martial artist instead. this type of characters are liked by us all ... he is kind .. funny ..down to earth .. loyal friend .. loyal lover ... there for you whenever you need him kind of person. his character matures as the series flows to the climax he becomes more serious and responsible person keeping his principles,kindness and morals intact. Hou minghao did great justice to this role and why not ? his actually aura dissipates all these qualities.❤️❤️❤️❤️

2) yue yao: at first i found this character extremely boring but as she joins the academy entrance test she changes into a fun character ... and as her relationship with the ML depends we see her becoming more charming ..graceful .. and what can i say i slowly fall in love with her .. ~ in the last episode when she said she will support BDJ's decision of following yun Ye irrespective of the consequences ..oh my god !! chef's kiss .. thats how FL should be fearless and daring to take a stand with ML. the actress playing the role is cute .. her acting was also good❤️

3) Yun ye: the most unfortunate hero (another sasuke) .. THOUGH SASUKE NEVER GAVE TWO FUCKS ABOUT SAKURA ..but anyways ... this character teaches us the following lesson :
A) dont skip your exam for a woman specially when she is a prince's keep.
B) dont invite the prince consort inside your hut even if she comes to your door ..and definitely dont create babies with her.
C) dont start a war with the country when your own woman doesnt listen and leaves to her ex husband place behind your back.
D) definitely dont start a war for heartless woman who will go back to her another option after your death.

4) prince roufeng : this man was moving pile of horseshit ..viewers might have mixed opinion about this character but as for me i hated him to core ... there is this one thing to summarize " evil done for good cause is good ..but good done for evil cause is bigger EVIL" he was the main villain in my opinion cause he claimed to save the people's good while he cant even save a mere woman from his rapist brother ... the so called war that he thought he can ignore still fought a lot of blood was shed ..why because this human trash thought he is living buddha and whatever the hell he suggests is best for the humankind .. my ass .. the actor playing it did great job he delivered the hypocrisy realistically.

5) master li : all i feel for this character was 'respect' .. i actually thought i am one of his disciples❤️ ..both actor for the role were amazing

6) prince/king roujin : third class pathetic .. weak villain with cheap character ...and miraculously he was saved and the poor hero was killed ..

i dont like such third class stories which start like some Buddha manuscripts and end into somethings something more disgusting than a bangladeshi porn ... with all those musical poetic cringe worthy dialogue on righteousness and whatnot we get this crap- climax ... HUH! THANK YOU! NEXT ...

REWATCHING VALUE IS MINUS 10 (there were no star for that)

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Overall pretty good show. Had good enjoyable experience . I would definitely recommend watching this

I would say after watching the entire show that this drama really made sense to me.
Every character had their own story and struggle and instead of clear demonstrating them black or white (pure good or pure evil) this really showed them Grey
Good had their share of bad and bad had their share of good qualities which was the key point I personally really enjoyed.
No one was solely"Hero" or "Villian" every one was "Character"

Long story short 😅
I really enjoyed the show it was fun watching it.
I would definitely recommend
U SHOULD DEFINITELY WATCH THIS.

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Charming Youngster

Honestly, you guys, I already watched "The Blood of Youth" before I watched "Dashing Youth," so I already know what happens to half of the parents, but it was still heartbreaking to fall in love with Ye Ding because you already know what happens to him and Wen Jun. It was very sad. I hate Ruo Jin for raping Wen Jun, and I was super surprised that she didn't tell anyone. It was heartbreaking, but Ye Ding still loved her even though she had the baby, which is true love. Honestly, I couldn't look at the emperor the whole time I was watching "The Blood of Youth." He could have had all these other women, but he was obsessed with her, and her family wasn't even on her side. I felt bad for both of them. When I saw him die, I was crying my eyes out even though I knew the ending. But I also loved the friendship and the martial arts. I love shows with martial arts and romance, which had everything I wanted, so I would definitely recommend you guys watch this.

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Act from your heart

I want to preface by saying that I came to this drama without any knowledge of the novels or the sequel, TBOY. This drama illustrates the main message of acting from/following your heart, and we see that through BLDJ's journey. Here is a summary of my thoughts.

The highlights:
- Amazing CGI effects (this must've been a high budget series), great aesthetics, and enough eye candies to keep you distracted
- The OSTs are probably one of my favourite things about this series, I've literally had them on repeat (nice to know that one was a solo track by Neo Hou and another by 5 of the main cast)
- The bromance and friendship between BLDJ and YDZ was just so touching and the anchor of the show. It was beautiful because their bond never faded even with time and distance. BLDJ was the one person who trusted and believed in YDZ until the very end (even when YDZ's love of his life, YWJ, didn't have enough faith in him and their relationship). It was tragic because you always think of what could've been if YDZ never lost his family and the two friends could grow up together
- The bromance between BLDJ and all of his seniors and SKCF was also great - their quirks and antics kept me going. I wish they fleshed out some of the characters more and their background story. I would totally enjoy side stories for each of them. I didn't have a hard time remembering all of them (there were SO many characters in this series) because they all had their own unique traits.
- I think everyone can agree that BLDJ's shifu NGCS is a fan favourite for a good reason - loved him. I can see the actor getting many love calls after this series
- The last 10 eps with the more engaging events of political strife and buildup

The lows
- As good as the CGI effects were, they were also overkill. Considering that this is supposed to be a wuxia series where the everyone is constantly emphasizing their passion for martial arts in almost every episode, the action scenes fell flat. There were barely any scenes with actual martial arts choreography. It was 95% talk and most scenes would end before they could even begin. The way they would name their moves was very cheesy at times.
- The timelines and convoluted series of events
- The romance. I didn't feel any sparks for the main couples - even between BLDJ and YY (who had more scenes together compared to YDZ and YWJ) felt lukewarm. They could've done without the romance or even glossed over it since there was a lack of foundation and proper development (especially between YDZ and YWJ).
- The female leads. I like YY's character and the actress conveyed her elegance very well, but I question the importance of her role. White YWJ was a plot device/catalyst of the main events, YY was diminished to just being BLDJ's companion for majority of the series

Overall, the drama would have done better if they had fleshed out some of the main characters, relationships and main events more. If you don't focus too much on the details, you can still enjoy the series.

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The story starts strong with a classic underdog narrative where the main character works hard to rise in a highly competitive environment, which keeps things exciting in the beginning. Dashing Youth incorporates a nice balance between humor and serious moments. However, as with many historical dramas, there are moments when the plot can feel a bit slow or repetitive, especially when the conflict revolves around political or family-related issues. For some viewers, these sections might be a bit too predictable, especially if they are familiar with the genre.

The chemistry between the leads is another highlight, with their relationship slowly developing into a romantic subplot. The female lead’s character is intelligent, confident, and a good foil to the male lead’s more naive but determined nature. Their dynamic evolves from a competitive relationship into mutual respect, which is satisfying for viewers looking for a bit of growth before romance.

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Loved It, Outstanding Visual Effects & Martial Arts

A Martial Arts story with a little bit of politics in it. It has a nice balance of both martial arts & politics. The fighting scenes were so impressive. The only drama which fighting scenes I love is "My Journey to You" after that, this dramas fighting scenes I love. It has martial arts with VFX. And VFX is top-notch.

If anyone want to watch Dashing Youth & The Blood of Youth both. I suggest to watch Dashing Youth first. Because in The Blood of Youth you'll get to know the story of Dashing Youth so it's better to watch this one first.

Baili Dong Jun is a lazy spoiled brat but has a goal to become a Liquor Deity. He is extra ordinarily talented & powerful. Sometimes he is a fool sometime he is the most mature person. He is righteousness. Love Hou Ming Hao acting.

Li Chang Sheng & Nangong Chun Shui characters a lot. Both the actors, Zhang Chen Xiao & Qiu Xin Zhi played the roles so marvelously. They portrayed the same character with the same personality but give their own touch to it. I was shocked to hear Li Chang Sheng's story. I'm sad that he won't be in the sequel.

Loved the opening sword technique of Gu Jian Men.

The 1st ep impressed me so much that my expectations for the rest of the episodes became high, especially the fight between Su Mu Yu & Gu Jian Men.

Lei Meng Sha is a chatterbox. Always saying something nonsense. And his laugh is also peculiar. But I like his character.

I was excited to know what would happen or what Baili Dong Jun & Sikong Chang Feng plan to do at Gu Jian Men's wedding.

Laughed how Lei Meng Sha reacted when he got to know Baili Dong Jun real identity.

Wen Hu Jiu asked Sikong Chang Feng why he wasn't unconscious, yet? His reply, almost there & fainting instantly, was hilarious.

Wen Hu Jiu keeps poisonous snakes as his pets in his pocket & his way of saving Sikong Chang Feng is funny & unique as well.

Love Baili Dong Jun & his father bickering.

Laughed how Baili Dong Jun's grandfather gave the same treatment to his son that his son gave to his grandson tied him up.

Laughed when Lei Meng Sha wanted to cheer, but nor Baili Dong Jun or Xiao Ruo Feng do it.

It would’ve been great if they'd shown Baili Dong Jun's journey of unlocking his internal strength.

Love Lei Meng Sha & Xiao Ruo Feng friendship the way Xiao Ruo Feng talks with Lei Meng Sha with sarcasm. Also love Mo Xiao Hei & Liu Yue bickering.

5 disciples had no idea about the huge fight between Li Chang Sheng & Yu Sheng Demon because they were too drunk. Poor them, they miss a legendary fight.

Poor Lei Meng Sha is so dead by Li Xin Yue for coming to a brothel the beating he got for visiting the place, slap print in his face. The spanking he got from her & his daughter walked away from there as it's a daily routine to see this.

Shocking how Yue Yao found just by smelling that Baili Dong Jun went to a brothel.

Loved by the style, Li Chang Sheng left the Imperial Mansion. Are they idiots? They call him a legendary martial artist but still try to kill him.

Laughed at the scene were Luo Sheng calling Li Chang Sheng as a playboy & Nangong Chun Shui as his son.

Laughed how Wen Hu Jiu ran like a bullet train to go outside.

Baili Dong Jun & Yue Yao expressions whenever Li Chang Sheng starts to praise him.

Baili Dong Jun's mother beating her father just like Li Xin Yue beats Lei Meng Sha.

Ye Ding Zhi & Wu Chan's relationship is so cute the way he says Ye Ge is so cute.

When will in C-Dramas they'll stop using bright lights in kissing scenes?

At first, Ye Ding Zhi had a goal to prove his family's innocence, but everything went out of the way when he met Yi Wen Jun. I mean he can pursue love with his goal remaining intact. But he forgot all of it for a girl & became obsessive about her. There were many ways to prove his family's innocence, but he didn't do it. It's true he can never be with Yi Wen Jun, even after proving his family's innocence.

I think what would I have done if I were in Yi Wen Jun's place? Being caged in a loveless marriage, in a political marriage. I would've tried to break up that marriage, but can we win against the imperial family? No, we won't. But I would never have left my child for some man, even if I'm in a loveless marriage, because for me my child comes first before love. Her selfishness cost Ye Ding Zhi's life. Just like Baili Dong Jun said, if she hadn't left in the first place, nothing would've happened.

It's a friendship & brotherhood centric story. But the scene time between Baili Dong Jun & Ye Ding Zhi was not that much for me to convince that Baili Dong Jun could go to any let for his childhood friend Ye Ding Zhi. I get it that they can't be together because of Ye Ding Zhi's identity, but it would've been good if they shared screen time in the 1st 20 episodes. The same goes for Baili Dong Jun & Sikong Chang Feng's friendship. They're always saying hi & goodbye now or then. For this reason, I gave a 9 rating.

Also I love the OST.

Now I'll watch The blood of youth. Can't wait to watch Baili Dong Jun & Sikong Chang Feng rest of the journey.

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for my self

finished it in August 2024, and made a review now april 2025, honestly the vibe of this drama is similar with Jinyong wuxia's work, has ties to other dramas and each character has its own spin off, so in this drama the details shown for other characters are very less, honestly it's not bad, just for the main characters in this drama look very rushed for the ending, for example Sikong Changfeng,

they bring up too many problems of the support characters, so they have to share more small details to explain them, even though their characters in a wuxia drama like this could have their own spinoffs

so that the details story about the main characters are divided

this is the first version I watched, and I'm grateful I didn't watch blood "the of youth" first, no matter what, it still has similarities with Jinyong's work in the story, and its amazing because I like all the supporting and characters they choose and their acting is very cool, EXPECT Yiwenjun, her character is very annoying and disgusting, her acting is also very disgusting compared to weak, her vibe more like the villain character that usually likes men who like other women, even though in this drama her character is a good person ,

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