This review may contain spoilers
The most beautiful storyline
At first when my sister suggested this show to me, i was skeptical because i’ve seen some bad chinese historical dramas so didn’t want to give it a go initially. HOWEVER, I still went on mainly due to the beautiful casts of this show. I was surprised by the first episode, didn’t know 44minutes could flew by so fast.Storyline:
I can say that LLTG storyline is not boring at all though there are still some cringe worthy moments, but still bearable. At first, i was definitely confused by the political shits that was happening but as the episode goes on, it cleared my doubt and i can reason with Ling Buyi/Huo Wushang’s actions. Believe me, each episode is interesting as they slowly uncover all the bad deeds that it will make u curious for the next episode so 56 episodes wont be such a drag for u.
Cast:
Honestly, remarkable cast. I can’t say more because just by watching and observing all the emotions they put in, a masterpiece is born. Wu Lei was good at keeping a straight and frowny face and omg when he gets mad, it’s HOT. Rosy who portrayed as Shaoshang was so bubbly and cheerful yet she’s a woman who is not scared of bullies and instead fight for her own rights, a true definition of women empowerment. It was truly relatable when she’s also someone who keeps everything inside her heart till it was too much for her to handle therefore, burst into tears infront of her fiance. Not gonna lie, the bullies were so good at acting i legit felt like i wanna punch them. All in all, there’s no bad actor in this show and this show will surely make u cry a river.
But if there’s one thing i want it to be better; uhm kissing scenes wise i would love it if it’s not just them putting their lips together but showing a good kiss considering how much angst moments they’ve been through. Second, personally the ending was alittle underwhelming since we couldn’t see their wedding though they did say they gonna get married but i still want to see it!!! However, everyone got their own happy ever after i guess so all’s good.
I strongly recommend people to watch this show! It’s a comedy + full of angsty moments where u gotta get ur popcorn ready and be comfortable at ur own seat. Oh not to forget, the Emperor and Ah Fei were the true comedians in this show with our little Shaoshang :) i’ve found gold so let’s all be happy and watch this comedy x historical show to boost ur happiness!
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Amazing finish. Fantastic Series
Hi all, apologies for a late review, I actually have finished this quite a while ago but too many things going on.Story: Carrying on from Season 1, this is an amazing story with plot twists and turns, its amazing how they have built the suspense of the story right up to the crucial points and just went you believe its over, guess what more comes your way. The ML/FL relationship dynamics is done really well. I would love to see ML/FL be in a modern series one day as I believe the chemistry is amazing.
Acting: Amazing chemistry all around, great acting from not just the ML/FL, everyone involved played their parts well, the villain's and other side characters played their parts amazingly.
Music: Same as season 1 no changes there
Rewatch: Absolutely without a doubt. I think I have watched this series in total approx 3 times now and some selected episodes a few more times as trying to understand the dialogue more as I rely on subs to understand what is happening. Overall a fantastic series and cannot wait for more like this in the future.
Overall: Amazing series, definitely one of the best series in 2022 by far.
Cheers,
Shing
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This review may contain spoilers
DON'T BE AFRAID... HURT ME MORE!
The second part is where things go downhill... I know Ling Buyi and Shaoshang's relationship wouldn't go as smoothly but I didn't expect their story would hurt me this much. The development of their relationship was incredibly well-written. They went step by step from getting to know each other's traits, meeting their family, solving problems, and even chasing out problem makers from the palace together.Shaoshang's character development was one of the things I liked the most about this drama, I cried a lot watching her grow from a silly troublemaker to a virtuous lady that solves problems. Although we were driven away from our beloved characters from part one (A-yao, Shaoshang's family, Qiqi, etc), we were also introduced to the Crown Family which has diverse personalities--but the Empress and Consort Yue are two amazing characters you wouldn't able to hate! They both played a great role in Shaoshang's fate. What was quite surprising for me was how doting the Emperor was to Shaoshang. It was really unbelievable for a ruler to be that kind and supportive of someone outside the crown family, but thanks to that oddity, our Shaoshang was able to achieve most of her dreams. Honestly, there are so many good things about this drama that I couldn't mention one by one.
The drama has many positive aspects, but I also love the angst. I love Ling Buyi was the key to the twist. His background was known very well to the world but in fact, there were things that kept hidden for his own good. What I hate--but I also love--was the miscommunication between the two leads who just happened to warm up to each other. This part really drove me crazy, I was in a painful state about whether to continue the remaining episodes or not. But as the story goes on, it brought them to a brighter end. The last episode gave me shivers... it was really the best closing for this drama!!
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Epic revenge saga with bonus romance.
As I'm late to the party, there is no point for me to add to the hundreds of reviews already here. Hence, this will not be a detailed review but rather some thoughts about this series (part 1 and 2 combined).When I say this show is epic, it is not an exaggeration. The revenge plot spans a generation. It also took years for our leads to complete their romantic journey. This is a long and bumpy ride for all involved.
In many ways, this series is true to its roots. The ML is stoic, brave, overflowing with martial prowess. The classic hero with a capital H. On the other hand, when we first meet the FL, she was a teenager barely 15. She was deprived of a formal education because of a scheming aunt. She is intelligent, feisty, has an affinity for mechanical things but unruly and wilful in the eyes of her elders. In short, the perfect foil for the ML.
Their romantic journey is fraught (of course it is). There are plenty of second leads and naysayers. At one stage, the FL told the ML to his face that he engineered their romance the same way he plotted the downfall of his enemies. The most generous you can say is that he doesn't leave things to chance even though he is 100% dedicated to the FL. He knows what he wants, and he can be ruthless . . . in love and in war.
There are many good performances in this drama. The Emperor and Empress are very understanding and supportive of our leads which is a nice change. Most antagonists are a bit one dimensional but it is par for this genre. At least they don't run amok all the time. All the young maidens are crazy for the ML, but he only has eyes for the FL so the amount of jealous/poisonous looks can power a small town. ;)
Our OTP are the bedrocks this series is built on. While The Romance of Tiger and Rose is the breakout role for ZLS, this pretty much cements her position as a S tier traffic star. The ML has master the stoic, heroic stance. They do have their swoon-y moments which is appreciated.
Nevertheless, the show can feel manipulative as well. For instance, the FL broke up with the ML towards the end of the drama and yet she refuses to forgive him even though he laid bare his soul to her and saved her life repeatedly. Then suddenly, she has an epiphany and all is forgiven. Just in time for the final epic battle and the series conclusion. ;)
The funny thing is after binge watching this show, I felt drained, but I also don't feel that I have much to add to the discord. It is well acted and beautifully crafted with epic scenes and an intricate plot. I could wax lyrical about that, I suppose. However, it is fundamentally tropey in the classical sense. We have seen many examples of this genre before. Aye, few are of this calibre, but it is a well-trodden path nevertheless.
What more can I say? It should be in every c-drama aficionado's watchlist. It needs to be experienced . . once. Peace.
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This review may contain spoilers
What was that??
The first part of the drama wasn't good enough to justify such a drop in quality.I'm sure that anyone who likes ML couldn't see beyond the actor's handsome face. How can someone who spends half the drama being the most dramatic person in the galaxy ask the protagonist to be open with him only to betray her trust?? And I don't particularly care about the FL, I don't hate her like many people do, but I wouldn't hate him just for betraying on her. The problem is how the drama treats the situation as if it were just a small pebble on a long path of love.
So you're telling me that this man who: tried to ruin her relationship with Yao, forced a marriage, took her to the palace (which he knew was dangerous!), argued with her countless times for acting exactly as she said she would, refused to tell her any information... I could go on! THIS MAN, should I expect a happy ending for him????
I don't care that ML characters are horrible and despicable, what I care about is that the drama portrays it as "he's protecting her!". It would have been much better if he had died on that cliff, or if she had hated him forever... anything.
This drama was a disappointment.
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By far the best drama this year!
This is a must watch! Excellent excellent in every way.The story/plot is excellent and not too tropey. The pacing is excellent! Every scene has its purpose and there are no fillers. I haven't fast forwarded even one scene. I've actually gone back to rewatch scenes if I look away to do something. I usually watch dramas in the background while doing chores but this drama is so good, I actually save it for times I can solely focus on it! Acting is excellent all around from the leads, to the supporting characters. Chemistry between Zhao Lusi and Wu Lei is off the charts! They are so compatible in acting, looks and age! Every scene they have together is special. Cinematography is excellent! This director is so good at making each shot purposeful. The music is perfectly enhances the mood of scenes without being a distraction. The characters (even the side characters) are all very well written and so many are likeable even with their flaws.
Must watch!
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Definitely the better half
OVERALLThis review is for the drama overall, though I will say a few things about part 2 specifically. In general, it's well worth the watch, though it's definitely NOT a perfect drama. Watch it if 1) you're looking for cute, PG-rated romance, 2) you like historical dramas with serious vibes but also the occasional fun scenes, 3) you want to see some adventure and political intrigue. Reconsider if 1) you're looking for a mature love story with lots of skinship, 2) you hate draggy and repetitive plot elements.
THE STORY
I honestly feel like Love Like the Galaxy has a bit of an identity crisis. It wants to be a light, fluffy idol romance, but it also wants to be a deep, heavy historical. The result? It ends up failing both and being stuck in between. The romance is okay but not swoon-worthy because the drama does not spend enough time on it so the intensity of the leads' love is unconvincing. The political intrigues and adventures are okay but not super engaging because the drama does not spend enough time on them and most of them feel random. Don't get me wrong, I binged the start of this drama and died weekly as I waited for the remaining episodes. The drama's good. But all the time, I just kind of felt like it could have been better?
The best of Love Like the Galaxy is the cinematography (mature vibes of sets and filters), the super fun and wholesome royal trio (emperor-empress-concubine), and a few attempts at breaking the mold (eg. unconventional second male leads, mother-daughter relationship growth). The main leads have depth, each with traumas to overcome, so it's also easy to like and care for them. Their love story is a slow burn, which is more realistic and totally my style. The conflicts (at least, between the leads) are also real and atypical. And in Part 2, the stakes keep on getting higher, with more danger and more adventures, which makes the plot thrilling.
But...
The drama has too many unnecessary characters and scenes. After watching it all the way to the end, there are SO many parts focusing on secondary characters that I feel could have been cut and replaced by more of the main leads together or more political intrigue (especially in Part 1). The drama also has too many parts that are essentially the same (eg. how many crazy, psychopathic women do you need in one drama? how many times is are the main leads going to struggle over the same problem?). And as if that wasn't enough, Love Like the Galaxy is FILLED with slow-mo, often for no reason haha It gets really frustrating because they could have better used their time. It's just lazy writing, really. Oh, and I also wasn't a fan of the way the romantic scenes were put together in this drama. Many turned out too cringe, it was like watching a Disney film haha
THE ACTING
I will start by saying I like Leo Wu and Zhao Lusi. I do. And now I will say that, in all honesty, I was not impressed by Leo's acting. I still like him though; he's young, he'll probably get better. With Zhao Lusi the opposite happened. I thought she was okay after seeing her in Long Ballad and Romance of Tiger and Rose, but I was surprised by how good she was with emotional scenes in Part 2. I really hope to see her in more strong and serious roles because she definitely has potential for more than the ditsy/funny roles she usually plays. Imo, Leo and Lusi did not have great chemistry together, but I think they did the job nicely. The rest of the cast was good enough, especially the older cast. Loved my royal trio!
THE MUSIC
I loved the instrumental tracks (they sometimes reminded me of Nirvana in Fire and Story of Minglan)! I just hated how cringe the BGM got whenever you had a romantic scene.
REWATCH VALUE
High. I'll rewatch for sure, but with some skipping!
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I'm biased, so Imma say its basically perfect.
Everything about this drama is on another level.Writing, cinematography, costumes, plot, acting, action, and supporting characters?!?!
It was all so enjoyable. I inhaled the show like oxygen and finished 56 episode in 4 days.
For ONCE I didn't feel as if it were dragging and would have liked it to be longer so we could get more of a "fairy tale" ending, but its still fine.
The only bad points are repetitive plot points, and the show never really making you fear that anything bad will happen? Its hard to explain but when you see how the emperor acts youll know.
Its SO refreshing! Its also strange.
This couple and story has me in a chokehold and I don't wanna leave it behind.
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This review may contain spoilers
Something new
This drama truly has been one of a kind. Though I have seen very good historical c-dramas before, 'Love like the Galaxy' stands out.The direction and music score in this drama were so beautiful, it took my breath away. Both beautifully highlighted the characters and the actors portraying them, making their talent shine. I especially loved the emotionally charged scenes such as Zhisheng's revenge and the Empress last moment. It's the first time I have seen editing like that in a c-drama. It almost felt like I was watching an musical, how gracefully it all was shown.
Lusi I've always loved, while Leo's acting has gotten even more solid after I last saw him in 'The Long Ballad'. I am deeply impressed by his talent and range while portraying this character . Best actor award, I do believe he truly deserves it.
ShaoShang and Zhisheng's confessions and kiss at the end, felt like a modern wedding with personal vows. Her smiling at her parent after the kiss and the rest of the family coming out, felt like a celebration after they've officially become husband and wife. It's so heartwarming to see these two lonely children, finally being surrounded with people who love them. To me, it was a perfect ending.
I commend the director, the actors and the entire production for creating such a masterpiece. Every little detail was done absolute to perfection. Though I do have minor criticisms, this drama was perfect. I see this drama going down in the books for sure!
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All just perfect!
Love Like The Galaxy is one of my watch-list dramas this year. I can say that it is really worth watching.Story
I'm impressed by how smooth and tidy the plot is. There are no plot holes or something weird about the story. Standing ovation for the screenwriters' team! I'm satisfied. Even though there are some scenes that made my eyebrow rise, but overall it is perfect. And I like that all the detail showed decently in the story.
Acting
Sometimes I can feel the awkwardness of some of the actors from other dramas that I watched so far, but this is one of my best-watched-drama-list. Yeah, nothing is perfect but I can say that I will recommend this drama to everyone. All the actors really have a great job in their own characters, especially our main Shaoshang and Buyi.
Music
The music really gives a great impression and uplifts the value of the drama. The music department staff really doing a great job for this drama.
As I said before, this really worth watching it. I can clearly rewatch it in the future when I have time.
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Best Costume Drama of 2022!
I am so sad that it ended. I honestly could use another 30 ep of this.Sure the drama started out with all the excessive ladies gossiping & doing evil things trying to get the ONLY bachelor in town but aside that minor flaw the story overall was executed close to perfection.
Why the perfect 10
1. ML/FL amazing chemistry. I've seen every Rosy drama but this pairing with Leo Wu was perfect. Leo Wu is just a talented actor since a baby.
2. Supporting cast. There were so many supporting characters that I equally loved in this drama notably:
- 2 Generals by ML for comic relief.
- Mom and Dad of FL. Dad is so funny and the mom's facial expressions always on point. I actually loved her character
- The Emperor and the 2 wives. The emperor especially was entertaining.
- Brother / besties of FL
- 2nd ML , 3rd ML (Yuan Shen) started out annoyingly funny then through character development became a worthy 2nd/3rd lead.
The whole cast was incredible.
3. Story . On the surface it's about love and revenge. However it's got:
-Plot twists. Not overly complicated. Not overly outrageous
- Best character development of main and supporting cast. Shao Shang started as a playful 15 year old. She went through varies struggles to learn about herself and the meaning of true love.
- Family dynamics, relationships between friends, family members
- Strong female characters
4. Beautiful costume, cinematography & music provided that dream land feel.
5. Rewatch Value. I already rewatched 3x.
6. Happy Drama overall. Not like traditional dramas where every character dies because let's face it, SAD endings sucks.
7. Ending of every episodes. Actors playing some games.
8. No cheesy voice dubbing. Unless it's due to actors having thick accents then I would always like to hear their own voices.
Sadly I really felt I want more in the ending not necessary story continuation but more of grand happy ending scene.
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