Legend of the Female General

Story full of romance and beautiful visuals!

Despite it's flaws like any other drama, I found it quite enjoyable to watch. One of the main criticisms is that ZY does not look her part as a tough loyal general HY. She's very charismatic and not meek like the other ancient fragile girls who needs saving, she's doing the saving and shows that females can also be equals. CL is acts convincing as XJ with the cold and indifferent personality but possess a warm nature. If you love romance, this is for you but if you are an avid fan of the novel, you can find yourself on the fence about it. There's also some excruciating annoying characters like CZ and PT in this show but it's not like they are inherently evil so it's not end all be all. Keep it a light watch and just enjoy it for what it is while acknowledging it's not a perfect show. Don't let the negative feedback to stop you from watching it, you have to form your own judgement after you watch it. I've watched every single episode without much skipping, it's has entertaining value with romance and action. Highly recommended!

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A million holes to poke, but I love it anyway

Definitely not perfect in a lot of ways, but I loved so many other elements about it that I don't want to give it a lower score. Most characters who weren't the mains didn't have character arcs and often were dropped from the story, I wanted more foundational backstory of their shared past, more of her journey to become a great fighter, plus lots of other little things that bothered me. I find myself agreeing with a lot of the people who scored it lower because they're making good points.

But listing everything I loved would take a lot longer than listing what I disliked. I loved that the main leads didn't choose to sacrifice their entire lives for marriage, the continuous push in the writing against misogynist ideas (even if it was heavy handed at times), the chemistry and connection between the leads, hateable villains, a fl that can fight, the motif of the moon, the writing that connected past events to present ones, and that their journeys allowed both main leads to accomplish clear goals, complete their arcs, and be equal partners. And the show ending in a narrative circle where she showed up for him when she couldn't at the very beginning was the icing on the cake.

I haven't mad much luck finding cdramas that are enjoyable for me throughout the entire run, so this felt very satisfying to watch. There are a million holes to poke in this show, but I had a great time. Need to go stare at the moon for a while to process.

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The potential was there!

Well, this kinda suffered cdrama crash curse, okay maybe not crash but fall. The saving grace that makes me still really love the show is the chemistry between Cheng Lei & Zhou Ye, the dynamic fight choreo & really kickass armour upgrades. Both leads truly embodied the characters, but perhaps the only drawback is the voice actor not differentiating between her man & woman voice. The variety of weapons used by He Yan and the finale ending with a sword swap of the Twin Star generals was so so so satisfying! The leads had such good comic timing + physical chemistry, especially when they fought each other & fought as a team — different tensions but so good. The slowburn romance, to He Yan’s self-discovery under all the disguises, to the hidden secrets, to love declarations — were all so well done. The dialogues will be remembered for years to come, the star general and her moon 🌙 ❤️‍🩹
The ending was sadly rushed, not giving enough time for the final war and undercutting General Yan’s death (was the most depressing part of the novel for me, & Cheng Lisu being cut from his MOST important character growth arc was so disappointing). But I did like that they added the leads fighting together in the finale! Some novel changes were good, adding to the angst which was acted so well, I still get emotional remembering it all.
My biggest gripe is not letting the main final villain be a real villain aka Chu Zhao. In the novel, he’s so broken as a person he doesn’t realise he can love, and has fallen for He Yan. By the time he’s accepted his feelings, she already in love with Xiao Jue. He tries to get her to like him but gives up, and follows his ambition. He was never a “good” person, but his guilt of sacrificing his bodyguard/assistant/closest aide, he realised he was too far gone to be good anymore. They threw this entire arc out the window and made him a morally good person that only becomes villainous cuz he’s a delulu lovesick jealous fool. When we’ve created a connection in the drama version between He Yan & Xiao Jue’s father (teacher-student) how can she be so nice to Chu Zhao who was a part of the conspiracy? It just isn’t believable that he’s part of the good team. Him betraying his master also was so obvious, not adding to the tension. Them changing his mother’s story, not showing us his abuse in his family & how he was used by his master made him feel like such a 2D character that suddenly went crazy in the last few episodes.
Also, the budget was low-key non-existent (they put it towards the costumes aka armour so that’s a plus) and whatever money they had left was all dumped on the CGI face-swap, which made the CGI for fire, smoke & other green screen stuff SO BAD like it was 2000s level bad. I just bursted out laughing in some high tension battle scenes cuz it looked so fake 😭🤣 But then the leads dashed in with crazy fight choreo and I fell in love with this show again 🫠 (Cheng Lei is so hot when his face is all bloodied.. and him in the rain in the finale.. YUMMMM)
But the biggest sin was NOT HAVING A PROPER ERMAO SCENE! That dog is their first child, we never even saw Xiao Jue look at his son, this is BLASPHEMY! I demand a re-edit!!! 😾

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Must watch if you like romance and really well written lead characters

**Overall Assessment**

Despite some plot weaknesses and less satisfying villain arcs, the love story is fabulous.

Xiao Jue and He Yan are remarkably complex individual characters with incredible depth. He Yan seamlessly displays multiple personas—bubbly and mischievous, deadly assassin, commanding general, vulnerable lover, and grieving woman. Xiao Jue transforms from stoic, rigid military leader into one of the most emotionally layered male leads I have seen.

The found family elements, particularly the episode 33 reunion, were flawlessly executed. I really enjoyed the action sequences—battles and sparring alike (except Jiyang). Rundu remains my favorite arc: both the military camp infiltration and the epic battle itself.

And the chemistry—absolutely magnetic. Countless scenes left me breathless because Cheng Lei and Zhou Ye's on-screen connection is simply electric.

**Final Thoughts**

I adored this show. I have read the novel translation, and this is the best possible adaptation given episode limitations and budget constraints. Showing a naval battle in Jiyang would have been impossible. Since the source material is essentially a romantic comedy, emphasizing romance makes perfect sense. They gave as many He Yan's combat scenes and battles within 36 episodes as they could—three major battles, one garrison fight, and sparring in early episodes. Cheng Lei has a stronger acting range, but Zhou Ye brilliantly captured every side of He Yan—her playfulness, fury, raw vulnerability, and military excellence. I feel like rather than trying to adapt everything and failing miserably because of budget and episode limits, they chose certain parts and did justice. For example, the Rundu battle has been depicted really well and the romance in Jiyang almost verbatim.

Some points to metion:
1. I felt the actual downfall of Chancellor Xu and He Ru Fei lacked impact. Their defeats felt abrupt and anticlimactic—they simply vanished from the story. I craved more dramatics, more satisfying revenge, just more

2. Personally, I didn't find Chu Zhao's marriage decree plot entirely unreasonable from the Emperor's perspective. His suspicion of consolidated military power makes strategic sense—most drama emperors fear one general. Here, he faces two formidable military leaders. His paranoia makese sense.

3. Chu Zhao becomes insufferable in the final episodes, but it serves a purpose—creating necessary tension in the final stretch. And the show sets up his spiral into yandere mode well. You actually see his creep factor increasing.

4. Cheng Lei's acting during the marriage decree announcement for He Yan and Chu Zhao was perfect.

5. And I repeat, THE ROMANCE WAS AMAZING. Xiao Jue has set the bar for MLs really high.

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A feast for the eyes, good pacing

If you want an epic ride, hop on.
If you love gorgeous, stunning fight scenes, that spit physics straight in the face, don't go anywhere.
If you like sweet romance, you're still at the right place.
If you can read tiny details, can see and thoroughly enjoy micro-expressions, and are an attentive watcher, who loves breath-taking visuals, don't move an inch.
If you love smart FL+ML, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU.
HOWEVER,
if you've awaited for this one to air for a long time, putting your expectation bar above the galaxy by now, you'll be disappointed,
if you came expecting a flawless masterpiece, you'll find faults,
if you prefer strong facial expressions, that scream the emotions they want to convey, need the story spoon-fed to you step by step to understand events, and haven't seen a c-drama before nope, sry, don't even start it,
if you want heart-shattering, soul-squeezing drama moments every minute, off you go than, THIS ONE IS NOT FOR YOU.

I'm not some pro reviewer, but seeing the hate this series got from many - because of unfulfilled sky-high expectations - I had to write a few words.

PROS:
- Cheng Lei, period. :D
- fight scenes. I mean Wooooow, just WOW! I love Chinese fight scenes, that couldn't care less about the laws of physics, and go entirely for the visuals. There were quite a few, and all look mesmerizing.
- I love a good romance story, and this one was executed beautifully, as part of their journey.
- the story's pacing was really good, not too slow, not too fast, just the right speed. Beside Be Yourself, this is the other series in a long time, that I managed to watch from beginning to end without getting bored.
- drama-romance-funny moments-fight scenes proportions were really well balanced.
- it was an epic ride.

CONS:
- she didn't look like a guy at all, not for a second, but sure, everybody was blind and deaf, so it's totally understandable, that nobody realized, she is a woman. However, from all the cross-dressing ladies, I've seen maybe 1 or 2 convincing enough.
- some silly things, like during fight, among the enemy soldiers, screaming and running around, like a headless chicken is not the most healthy - and logical - thing to do, especially from a disciplined, well-trained general.
- some unrelatable events, e.g. shifu's death. Maybe they had to cut some scenes, so we couldn't get to know his character well enough, but it was just a meh for me, even though I like the actor.
- our powercouple is all brains and smarts, and cunning, but the enemy is stupid as hell most of the time, walking straight into their traps.
- the usual misunderstanding trope, that makes me want to pull out my hair one by one. Just the one when he finds out her previous identity, but I get it, it was time for some drama.
- FL's speeches. Too many, and the tone was just a bit off for me.

Some things OTHERS criticize, and I get the why, but :
- the FL is too bubbly
She had to act all her life, couldn't let anyone close, of course she is a pro at pretending by now.
- the female general is not badass enough, she should be epic
Well, I don't know about others, but if I were poisoned, blinded, than almost killed, that would put a few things in perspective. She was still badass and epic enough for me.
- why is there romance, it ruined the show
It's 2nd in the genre description, what do ppl expect?! :D
- the ending
If someone's seen at least one c-drama with palace intrigue, they shouldn't be too surprised. The emperors are nearly always snakes, when it comes to military powers, too much means almost certain death, ofc. he couldn't let them married. I only had beef with the fact, that the writers had to involve SML in it. He was one very-very calculating, morally grey character, never liked him, but from what I recall, there weren't any indications, that he was about to blow.
I'm actually more surprised the emperor let them get married in the end.

The story has flaws, but the directing and editing is great in my books, not to mention the choreo of the fight scenes. I'm in awe!

All in all, the PROs so much outweigh the CONs, thus I highly recommend giving it a try.
Those aforementioned cons are just momentary distractions on this epic ride, it's worth the time invested in watching it.
Mind you, I'm the type who has no problem with blanks in the story, that need to be filled out with logic or imagination.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Off to my 2nd time on this ride :)

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It's a romance first and foremost

==Breakdown==
Background plot- 35%
Romance - 55%
Misc comedy - 10%

Background plot - Pretty good
Romantic chemistry - Excellent
Misc comedy -Good
Production value- Pretty good
Direction -Mixed bag

If you're looking for a war or historical epic, this isn't it. It isn't an epic at all, but rather a straight-forward romance. It's too bad, because it probably could have been an epic if they'd used the same director as 'The Double' or 'Fangs of Fortune,' or someone similar.

The fight scenes were directed quite well, however.

Now, if you're looking for a good historical romance, this is quite good. The chemistry between the leads is excellent and was consistently the only reason I kept watching. Since I watch CDramas for the romance, this bumps up my rating from a 7.5 to an 8.5 (because the romance / chemistry was THAT good).

Overall, watch if you love romantic CDramas. Skip if you don't.

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a woman fighting for her honor and destiny

finished 8.5/10 ⭐️
This is one of the dramas I was most looking forward to this year... Overall, the story was good. It had positive and negative aspects, in my opinion.
What stands out most is the lead couple. Both Cheng Lei and Zhou Ye did a magnificent job of developing an overflowing and vibrant chemistry.
Zhou Ye's character was very well constructed, a dominant and strong woman, but not condescending or cruel... a perfect balance between serenity and strength...
Cheng Lei is a new actor to me. I'd only seen him in MJTY, and I'm glad to see that he's being given the opportunities he deserves... I hope to see more of his work in the future.

I think the drama had some serious flaws in the script and some chapter cuts. They did what they could with the story, but some gaps and horrible editing cuts were noticeable.
The last six chapters added unnecessary filler, and some scenes didn't meet my expectations, although I'm happy with the ending.
I recommend this drama if you're looking for a strong FL, a determined and bold ML, iconic fight scenes, and chemistry that leaps off the screen.

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Strong Plot and Action, but Awkward Romance Setup

Legend of the Female General starts off with a promising plot and an impressive female lead. The fight scenes are well-choreographed and one of the drama’s strongest points, showcasing both skill and style. I especially enjoyed how the FL was portrayed as capable, playful, and determined — she carried the story well.

The romance, however, may feel a bit awkward for some viewers. Since the ML initially sees the FL as male, certain “chemistry” moments come across as forced and less natural. To make it more distracting, the disguise isn’t entirely convincing — she looks clearly female, which makes the setup harder to buy into.

The pacing is another mixed point. While there are many exciting moments, some episodes drag on with filler and side plots, slowing down the momentum. That said, the drama shines when it leans into its strengths: action sequences, light comedy, and the developing chemistry between the leads.

Helpful Tips: If you enjoy historical fantasy dramas with a strong heroine, good action scenes, and romance at the forefront, this will likely be enjoyable. But if you’re expecting deep political intrigue or tight plotting, you might find it a bit stretched.

Overall, it’s an entertaining watch with a solid female lead and exciting fight scenes, though not without its weaknesses in pacing and romance setup.

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I LIKE THE MOON, BUT THE MOON DOESN'T KNOW !!!

Legend of the Female General is one of those rare historical dramas that manages to feel both familiar and completely fresh. It takes well-worn tropes—the cold male lead, the hidden identity, the struggle for power—and injects them with heart, growth, and a quietly radical feminist undertone. Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei were nothing short of outstanding in their performances, and together, they carried the drama into something memorable and inspiring.
What stood out to me most is the journey of He Yan. Unlike most female leads in this genre, she isn’t written as a naturally talented fighter whose skills are recognized over time. Instead, she begins at rock bottom, stripped of everything, and has to claw her way back up through sheer grit, persistence, and intelligence. It was incredibly refreshing to see a heroine who doesn’t succeed because she’s “special” or “gifted,” but because she works harder than everyone else. The message that dedication and resilience matter more than natural talent made her arc deeply empowering and, honestly, very moving to watch.
Zhou Ye delivered on every level. She captured He Yan’s curiosity, wit, humor, and resilience, but also her vulnerability as someone struggling to find her place and identity after losing so much. Some viewers complained at the beginning that she lacked the aura of a general, but I think this criticism completely missed the point. Legend of the Female General is about growth. Watching He Yan step into her role gradually, with setbacks and moments of doubt, was exactly what made her rise so rewarding.
On the other hand, Cheng Lei brought Xiao Jue to life with so much nuance. He could have easily fallen into the “cold, stoic male lead” cliché, but instead he came across as commanding and charismatic while also warm, humorous, and emotionally intelligent. What I appreciated most is how feminist his character was without ever being preachy. Once he realized He Yan was a woman, he never belittled her, dismissed her, or tried to “protect” her in a patronizing way. Instead, he respected her skills, praised her achievements openly, and supported her in reclaiming her identity as a woman. He wanted her not only to succeed as a general, but also to embrace her womanhood proudly in a world that denied women any space outside the inner quarters. That balance made Xiao Jue one of the rare male leads in historical dramas who felt like a true partner, rather than a rival or a shadow to the female lead’s success.
Together, Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei had electric chemistry. Their banter was playful, their tension gripping, and their emotional scenes heartfelt. It wasn’t just about romance; it was about mutual respect, admiration, and partnership. Watching them grow together was one of the highlights of the drama.
The secondary characters added texture, though with varying degrees of impact. Chu Zhao, for instance, was interesting at first but ultimately fell into the trope of the entitled second male lead. He presented himself as moral and righteous, but his actions—particularly the way he used Pingping while falsely praising her—revealed a hypocrisy that made his so-called “love” for He Yan feel shallow. He wasn’t the feminist he imagined himself to be, and in the end, his character lacked the integrity he pretended to uphold. In contrast, Cheng Lisu and Song Taotao’s subplot was genuinely refreshing and sweet, even if their screen time was limited due to production issues.
The villains were the weakest part for me. He Rufei was absurdly delusional, more tantrum-throwing child than credible threat, and Xu Jingfu’s motives were left frustratingly underdeveloped. There were also plot threads—like Madam He and Mister He colluding with their son—that were brushed aside with little payoff, and even the villains’ deaths felt rushed. With more time, these arcs could have been more impactful.
Visually, the show was beautiful. The cinematography, battle scenes, and costumes all elevated the story, while the smaller comedic and emotional moments gave the drama heart and intimacy. And one detail I deeply appreciated: the fact that He Yan’s comrades and Xiao Jue’s subordinates actually survived until the end. It’s a small thing, but in a genre where beloved side characters often die for the sake of drama, it was a rare and welcome mercy that made the finale feel more hopeful.
If the drama has a flaw, it’s the runtime. At just 30 episodes, it sometimes felt rushed. A longer run—40 to 45 episodes—would have allowed the story to breathe and given more space for He Yan’s inner journey and the villains’ arcs. Still, with the time they had, the production team did an excellent job keeping the story cohesive, engaging, and emotionally satisfying.
Ultimately, Legend of the Female General is more than just another historical romance. It’s a story of resilience, growth, and love told through a feminist lens, with a heroine who refuses to be defined by her limitations and a male lead who never overshadows her but instead lifts her up. Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei’s performances were phenomenal, and together they created a drama that is touching, inspiring, and unforgettable.
Highly recommended if you want a drama that combines romance, action, humor, and an empowering message about what it means to fight for your place in the world—and to do so as a woman.

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General’s Love and Battles, Lost in a Rushed Ending

I often see people debating whether Legend of the Female General is overrated. Personally, I don’t think it is. The long wait for its release and the massive hype around it only raised expectations to a high level. As someone who hasn’t read the novel, I still enjoyed this drama and even found myself waiting eagerly for each new episode.

Is the storyline strong? Not really. The plot is focused almost entirely on her journey. Some viewers complained that the romance became too prominent, but I actually think it added depth. Seeing her slowly accept a kind of love she had been deprived of her whole life, her determination to stand strong again made her character more human and relatable. Honestly, would you really want a drama that is purely endless wars? The romance not only balanced the pacing but also highlighted the undeniable chemistry between the two leads.

That said, I found the last three episodes frustrating. Suddenly turning the 2nd lead into a villain really felt forced, making obsessive behavior and decisions out of nowhere. Another one is giving a random spotlight to supporting characters only to kill them off. The maid with good martial arts skills dying from one stab was too funny and ridiculous. Even the emperor’s sudden shift to villainy was awkwardly written. If not for his brief self-reflections of whether he did wrong, I would really think the writers are making him a last minute villain. Instead of relying on these tropes to create last-minute drama, they could have shown her rebuilding her army, training soldiers, or stabilizing the borders. That would have been a much stronger and more fitting conclusion.

On the bright side, the leads delivered excellent performances. Zhou Ye embodied the female general perfectly, fierce and commanding yet layered with vulnerability. Cheng Lei played his role with warmth, composure, and strength. Their dynamics really carried the drama.

As for the technical side, the AI editing on Cheng Lisu’s face did not bother me much in the beginning, though I eventually noticed it since I knew the original actor. It does not really affect the drama overall, so I was fine with it. The fight scenes were clearly shot for cinematic appeal. They looked good, but I have seen better choreography. Personally, I was not too invested in those anyway.

Overall, it’s a fun and enjoyable watch. Not the best drama of 2025, with so many great ones already released, but definitely one of the more interesting and memorable ones this year.

Not the greatest of its year, but definitely one worth watching if you are looking for a charismatic heroine, a good balance of war and romance, and leads who bring their characters to life.

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Kept the essence of the novel without the details. Heavy comparisons ahead

I came in with quite big expectations so i started watching it while airing. Found the airing slow and ran out of eps but already got gripped by the plot so went to read the novel. Maybe that was my mistake. So i ended up comparing the two versions left and right. The drama kept the essence, but changed the details. Found a lot of things amiss. The novel was also much more touching and wholesome and more of a legend than the drama.
When i read the novel, my expectations soared high. So when i came back after reading it, i was kinda disappointed.

Characters: i didnt really find the characters grow at all. Fl was supposed to be strong and she was both clever and strong and knew what she wanted. But for a general who had a tough life with extreme betrayal, for her to be so bubbly and chatty felt out of character. She was not this playful in the novel, mostly she was pretending and that was only around the ml. Ml was a cold faced but strong and intelligent general. But after he fell for her, he kinda became a simp, though he didn't become weak. And in their teenage years, the help that he extended to fl dressed as a man seemed weird to me as it came without reasons. They didnt keep some characters i loved from the novel, understandable since rebirth or soul swapping is banned. Chu zhao became a lot more humane and moral character here compared to the absolutely shrewd, unscrupulous, cruel, scheming, selfish, heartless man without morals, who does whatever to satisfy his purpose in the novel. Here he was like a lost puppy who found light in fl and got crazy obsessed with her, classic love triangle trope, which is different from the novel since there he tried everything to honeytrap her to get to ml and use them. But at least i pitied him here rather than in the novel. He rufei here was an evil lackey at best, extremely proud, but somehow messes up whatever he tried to do by himself. Novel he rufei was at least quite clever and scheming. Most characters have been softened to some extent in the drama from what they were in the novel.

Story: the plot kept the tiny details but changed the major parts, so sometimes these tiny details didn't make much sense. For example, he yan drowning in shallow water was ridiculous in the drama, but in the novel she was murdered by drowning. The dialogue, i love the moon, the moon doesn't know, and all her moon references came from the part where he yan was given new hope to live when she tried to end her own life and xiao jue saved her. Since that entire part was changed, it didn't make much sense. Fl's mother's death was stupid too, a fully healthy woman suddenly dies unexplained, unlike in the novel where she had been slowly poisoned and took the final dose herself. Onto a useless causalty, yan he, in the drama his death by an arrow wound at his doorstep was unnecessary, in the novel his arrow was poisoned and he died much later. Also, xiao jue had seen feihong during the mingshui battle so when a different person appeared in the court as feihong, he should've been able to tell them apart considering that he yan was a small and skinny person, adding to another inconsistency just to keep angst in the plot. Howevr, this wasn't an issue in the novel at all since feihong had never appeared outside battlefields. In the novel, of course he had a face off with her about her being feihong but it was not related to his father's death. They removed an epic naval battle at jiyang, and also didn't focus much on her journey to become the top 1 of yezhou garrison. The fight against libei tribe wasnt as great as the novel where she single handedly defeated 3 of their warriors. The rundu war was grim, they didn't keep its very serious nature. Also, 1 tiny detail here, if he yan could reach rundu from yezhou by traveling overnight, requesting and waiting for help from feihong for days was unnecessary as they could have just asked help from fengyun instead. In the novel this happened because rundu was a 15 day travel from yezhou so it made perfect sense. They completely altered the last 10 eps from the novel, until then they still had somewhat followed it. Chu zhao became a hopeless fool, obsessed with fl and trying whatever to break fl and ml apart, typical of any other cdrama. These weren't in the original novel. So there were a lot of inconsistencies. The novel was quite politics and action heavy, with little romance which was extremely slow burn. Here it was much more focused on romance and although supposed to be heavily political and action, they cut out most of the epic battle and action scenes.

Production: good acting, good chemistry. Decent production. The few action scenes it had were well done. The costumes weren't all that grand and all.

My review compares the drama with the novel a lot but my rating is solely based on the drama itself. It was entertaining and a good watch with a happy ending. I would recommend watching it once and even more so i would recommend reading the novel after watching it.

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