Trying Subject Matter nearly PERFECTLY EXECUTED
I used to help young screenwriters back in the day and there was a tip they found useful: each page should read a little faster than the last. So if the story starts out just okay, that's okay, if each minute gets better and -- by the last pages -- it's a real page turner.This is the experience of WAR OF FAITH. Starts okay, but you get a little antsy about the pace. Don't. Each episode gets a little better. It never goes down in quality, only up. I must confess the series takes off like a runaway train when Lan Xi Ya joins the cast around the midpoint.
(Personally, I'd have added scenes about her in the beginning to pep up the slowest part of the show.)
The main cast is great. Faces you've seen everywhere. Wang Yi Bo is his usually measured self, and although not a dynamic actor, his Wei Ruolai is more than just a idol drama cutesy guy.
Li Qin is also from the LESS IS MORE School of Dramatic arts. This actress isn't my favorite, but she has a way of showing up in one great show after another. I've enjoyed her most in RUYI'S ROYAL LOVE, SNOWY NIGHTS/TIMELESS LOVE, and THE YOUTH MEMORIES. Here she may be the weakest of our leads. In the first half of the series I suspect she's not exactly sure how to play her character, but perhaps she isn't given enough to do. It's like the story holds her back from shining until the second half, where she shines indeed.
It seems every C-Drama I see holds a gem. An actor I've never seen before who shines -- and for me that's the banker Wang Yang. He doesn't appear to be acting. He simply is Shen Tu Nan and offers a flawless award worthy performance.
And as mentioned earlier, the gem of SHE AND HER GIRLS (Lan Xi Ya) explodes here with charisma and adrenaline.
The entire cast is great but worthy of mention is Zhang Tian Yang, the clever Captain Lin who has more lives than a street cat. What blew my mind is that only halfway thru did I discover I already knew this actor as a nerdy henpecked husband also from SHE AND HER GIRLS. Is acting chops are so good it's impossible to see he's the same actor in both series. His romance in this story is quite excellent, because it doesn't really belong here -- but he and his belle Zhang Yi Jun have the chops to pull it off.
Of the story itself, I'm torn. As my title suggests, I find these political revolution stories as 'trying'. Meaning it's not a genre I really like. I enjoy the Republican era for it's look and feel, but it's stressful watching people get tortured mercilessly and people in hospitals in great pain. Of this tone, I'd have taken it down a notch. Watching our lead be tortured and then immediately followed up by some GOODFELLAS kicking in prison was over the top. No one would survive that.
Yet the writing quality of this series was as sharp as the production values. So of the subject matter I'd say 7 but of the execution 9. So I think the story lives around 8.5.
In comments people get all upset about the 'propaganda' in this story. I hear you, but the actors and story and production values are so top notch -- just ignore the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' aspects and enjoy the ride. It never gets painful or overbearing, and frankly many sides of this issue are presented reasonably well and fair.
I had two nitpicky things about this series (which I haven't completed yet but I'm nearly there)
1. It was never properly explained why the rich powerful banker wouldn't dress up his assistant in a decent suit immediately upon hiring. People in the comments told me to be patient and await the explanation, but there's no reason why the explanation needed to be withheld. Literally the assistant is told "Don't embarrass the big boss!" and yet he looks like a homeless dude for way too long. Either dress him up sooner or clearly explain why he isn't in exposition.
2. Similarly, the title of this series isn't explained soon enough. You have to get DEEEEEEEEP into the series to get it, and in this case, I'd have preferred the explanation towards the top. Which by the way was perfectly possible.
3. The last quarter of the series seemed rushed. I thought they were saving a huge reveal of Big Sister, which never materialized. Also, they planted that under emotional stress one character could almost pass out, but during the last episodes they seemed to have forgotten that. Also, the shootout on the train at the end was sort of a lazy way to resolve stories. Instead of having characters talk to each other, bang bang.
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Have faith
Well-paced, intriguing, no holds barred drama with a very solid cast. With Wang Yibo, Li Qin and Wang Yang as leads, this drama draws me in from the very first minute and never lets up. Beautiful cinematography sets each scene, ready to impress me, and impress me it did. The production quality of War of Faith is top notch.Ideals woven into subplots, this drama makes you rethink your red line and humanity. Characters that come from different backgrounds may converge if their beliefs and faith meet..or not.
Wang Yang is debonair, exuding such confidence into his character. He is new to me and I’m impressed. Li Qin is an accomplished actress, portraying Shen Jinzhen superbly. Wang Yibo continues to soar to new heights, worthy of every accolade given by industry peers.
If you have any doubts about starting this drama, I urge you to simply give it a try before forming any preconceived judgment, it may surprise you.
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This review may contain spoilers
Must watch engaging and entertaining drama
I haven't thought I am gonna enjoy this drama this much.Its has such a great ride with twists and turns.It was a very fast ride from 1 to 30 episodes.I havnt liked the drama after it moved from Shanghai.
3 people killed me with their acting.
"Zhang tian yang" -omg what an acting!Such a ruthless Villon.Caring lover.
If we can see romance in this drama then it's because of his character only.such a good job.
Wang yang- such a great character who live just for the country and it's growth.The bond bw him and WYB was awesome.Its very nice to see them both in same screen sharing tutor and student bonding.His acting is top notch showing minute expressions in his face to express each feelings.
Finally Wang yi bo- I can see he has given his full dedication to this character.He justfied his character through his great acting.way to go bobo.
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a republican era drama that sweeps like a brand-new broom
it's a little difficult to define this drama. in all honesty. it should be a mess, given the variety of actors, storylines, and politics, but it is a great watch, with engaging, well-developed characters and an approach to history that is surprisingly deft through most of its run.so in this beautifully shot Republican era drama, we have a mismatched bunch of actors from liuliang all the way through to well-regarded veterans and character actors. there's little to criticise about any of them. even where the direction may feel a little heavy-handed or the exposition a little too obvious, the ship is steadied by Wang Yang at the core, as stubborn but sympathetic official Shen Tunan.
the story is initially simple. exceedingly intelligent country boy, played with great sensitivity by Wang Yibo, comes to the big city to make his fortune in finance and finds a family, a job, a mentor and a purpose. of course, this isn't how it plays out. one by one, circumstances and individuals knock out each of the underpinnings of Wei Ruolai's faith in the system and in himself.
there will be times that everything feels entirely too unrealistic. there will be characters that are altogether too much. there will be politics that is far too unsubtle. but these things feel irrelevant given the feisty pace, the solidity of the overarching plot, grounded by the history and political imperatives of then and now, and the exquisite charm and pathos of the many and varied cast.
overall thoughts: a worthwhile story that deserves all of its accolades.
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don't go into this drama expecting something extraordinary
despite good acting, portrayal of characters is heavily biased. all the morally grey or outright negative characters are non-communists, while communists are uniformly depicted as virtuous and compassionate (usual propaganda). this lack of nuance detracts from the realism of the story, as no group is entirely free of flaws. another thing that really bothered me was the handling of a romantic relationships. if screenwriter intends to tease romantic subplots, it would be better not to do that. these tiny moments make watching experience more frustrating. despite WWs being overused theme in cdramas, this drama is able to stand on its ownWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A Good Espinoza Drama set in Republic era with story that totally fits its Name (War of Faith)
My final rating would have been 8.5, but given its current rating of 8.3, I decided to round it up to 9."War of Faith" weaves a compelling narrative around three dynamic characters - Wei Ruo Lai, Shen Tu Nan, and Shen Jin Zhen - set against the backdrop of Shanghai's turbulent political and financial landscape of the 1930s, impacting the entirety of China.
The Premise:
The story begins with Wei Ruo Lai, a young man from a rural village who moves to the city hoping to leverage his mathematical skills and eidetic memory to improve his life. He secures a position at the Central Bank, which is under the government's purview at the time, working directly under his idol and mentor, Shen Tu Nan, the bank director. This job also leads him to meet Shen Jin Zhen, an engineer working at an arsenal factory and Shen Tu Nan's sister.
The Main Story Line:
Both Shen siblings are deeply committed to their principles - the Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Communist Party - and are dedicated to improving their country through their beliefs and expertise. Shen Tu Nan strongly believes financial reform within the republic, while Shen Jin Zhen believes that only a complete governmental overhaul can truly better the nation. Although Wei Ruo Lai is fully aware of the strong convictions held by both siblings, he particularly admires his mentor Shen Tu Nan and wholeheartedly dedicates to his vision of financial unification. However, Wei Ruo Lai's idealism is shattered when he discovers rampant corruption within the republic at devastating personal cost, leading him to lose faith in both Shen Tu Nan and the KMT government. This disillusionment forces him to escape the city with the assistance of Shen Jin Zhen. In a rural setting, Wei Ruo Lai begins to understand and adopt communist ideals, gradually engaging in efforts for financial unity. This path eventually leads him to financial confrontation with his former mentor, Shen Tu Nan.
Positives:
1) The Excellent and compelling characters (Main and Supporting) with satisfactory arcs
2)One of the best Anti-Hero story arc (Lin Qiao Song) in recent times that raises the strakes
3) Some Historic Moments/ Details laid throughout storyline that shed some light such as Shanghai Bombing, Anti-Japanese moment, Long March.
4)The Production and set piece looks high quality are excellent, i recommend to watch it on TV or much bigger screens.
5)The Powerhouse performance from wang yibo, wang yang and li qin.
Negatives:
1)Phasing n narratives disjoint Issues particularly second half of the story.
2)A very to the nose Propaganda in the last 7 episodes.
3)Irritating how villains survive sometimes to the point they survive after enduring 2 bomb blast in one day.
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Golden Journey
The script of a political and economic story is highly elaborated and detailed, which takes place in a real historical period with fictitious characters. There is no romance, but it is very emotional and you can see the most attractive relationship between the characters. Especially the bromance of the series, which were extremely flattering!Each episode ends at a place where you want to jump to the next episode. It's not boring at all and every episode has a special event that is dealt with adequately and you can't expect something all the time.
The series is of high quality. Every episode is like a well-made movie. It took six years to make this series, the quality of which shows what it was.
It can be said that the only problems are in the last few episodes, but there is no problem until the 30th episode, it is very attractive and it is on another level. This series raised my expectations from spy series. Ost's was also very beautiful...
In summary, pay attention to the genre of this series and if you are interested in this type and style of stories, come to it. Don't say that There is Yibo and I should watch it cus of him. Of course, the actors of this series are top-notch, and Rolai is the cutest character of Yibo. I'm going to miss him and I want season two...
It has the potential to have a second season, but this season is completely over. No need to worry.
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One of the best republican Chinese shows out there
I started this show purely for wang yibo but stayed for the plot, The plot is not particularly unique but the setting and the cast definitely made a huge difference...the good
The plot was very intricate and the cinematography was very good, i also liked how there were some morally grey characters like wei ruolai's neighbor who didn't hesitate to treat him like her son when it was beneficial for her and blame everything on him when she was in trouble. I also liked the fact that most characters are pretty normal, Wei ruolai for instance used his fiancee back home to reject women but at the same time when he started moving up the social ladder he became embarrassed of her whereas if you take lin qiaosong, he wanted jinzhen as his trophy wife when he was powerful and did not care about his "lowly" mistress but as soon as he lost everything he learned the value of the one that was by his side
the bad
The issue with this drama is that all the morally grey or bad characters are not communist, the communist are shown to be very upright and caring people. If you notice throughout the story there is not even one "bad" communist and all the non communists are shown to be morally gray or power hungry. Another issue which was purely from my point of view is the romance, If the show has no romance i'd prefer it if they didn't give unnecessary hope to viewers by showing cute short scenes, it makes it so much worse when you think they have a chance of ending up together(ToT)
conclusion:
overall great show but i wish they showed more "war" of faith by making sure that the non-communists also had valid points or good people because one side is never always right, but i get that they probably can't due to censorship and other issues but i wish that it was harder to choose sides because it makes the show more interesting (acc. to plot so far communist party is the only right choice)
the only thing getting me through the pain of a certain someone's death is this edit:
https://youtu.be/5ph57bSYMpg?si=hODy7zjm6ZOlpZ5H
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A Heart-Wrenching and Beautifully Crafted Drama
The story and characters captivate from the start. The actors deliver impressive performances, bringing to life well-written strong female characters like Li Qin's capable lead who balances ruthless assassin and caring heart with ease. Phenomenal actress!Wang Yibo shines in one of his best roles yet as he works alongside an amazing cast that brings this engaging and entertaining drama to life.
A powerful portrayal of resilience and determination set against a historical backdrop makes for an unforgettable drama that tugs at your heartstrings. This heart-wrenching story showcases humanity's greatest struggle and triumph, perfectly depicted in one of the best Chinese Republican dramas I've seen.
I highly recommend this series!
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Young Man Trys To Get A Job A Bank...
I Was So Excited When I Turned My T.V. On, And Put YouTube On, And Saw YiBo's New Drama. I Love, And Adore Him So Much, So When I Saw Him With This Role, I Wasn't Too Happy. I Don't Understand Why They Always Give Him Roles Where He Is Either Poor Or Unwanted. I Honestly Don't Care What Role, He Plays, I Will Always Love, Adore, And Support Him No Matter What! It's Just I Wish He Didn't Have To Be Poor, And Make Ends Meat All The Time, Or Cry... And Always Beaten Up! 😭 Great Drama Though Ep. 3Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful cinematography & riveting storyline
First multi-episodes drama I was able to complete in the last decade.Not really what you would expect of an espionage drama, especially for a story from that era.
I love how all the plots nicely came together without any lose ends. But personally, I do wish one of the character had better ending.
Really recommended for those who are looking for good mainland drama that is not one of those overused costume drama plots.
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One of the best 19th cdrama I have ever watch.
From the story, acting, music, visual, etc is so good. This is also one of the drama I never fast forwarded because the value of lesson is so valuable. I learned from this drama is that decision, strategy, cautioness, mindset, communication, and mentality is something that we always needed when doing something to the best. And I think the best thing of this drama was the journey of each character and not just the lead but also the support role. Lastly I strongly recommend for those who haven't watch this drama to watch it.Was this review helpful to you?
