This review may contain spoilers
Disturbing, leaving a heavy impact
This miniseries left me with an uneasy feeling. I changed my inner rating thrice before deciding.As I don't like spoilers (don't read further if it's the same for you), I didn't know what to expect and observed that poor 7th prince being bullied, I pitied him, loved his sweet smile ... this is until the moment his true face showed. Man, that was a great plot twist, the change was really well done.
The ML was so abusive, it was almost disturbing. Be it mental or physical abuse, he did it all. He was crazy, taking away everything she had, isolating her completely. And she was so resilient, never giving in.
I loved the acting of the leads, that was a real performance, they did an amazing job.
I really liked this drama but the disturbing part still lingers.
What was frighening was not only the ML, who had no limit to make her stay, it was also the fact that noone helped her, although it was obvious what was going on.
If you can stand a drama with a very toxic, dark red flag, this is for you, don't miss it.
If you struggle with abusive leads, don't even think about this one
For a miniseries it was really great, even though the side characters were nearly nonexistant.
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Hyper-possessive ML, lame Revenge Plans and Hairpin Assassination
This drama is a cocktail of unique concepts and baffling decisions. It breaks away from the usual narcissistic MLs and submissive FLs with a hyper-possessive ML and a rebellious, below-average IQ FL. Initially intriguing, it soon descends into a repetitive mess—she escapes, he catches her, rinse and repeat. By the third cycle, I was rooting for the ML to give her a map and compass because her escape plans were painfully idiotic.The FL was a walking disaster. She dragged her childhood friend into her revenge plan, only to get him killed. If revenge was her goal, why involve him at all? Her hairpin assassination attempt on the ML was comedy gold—it was like bringing a fork to a gunfight. And don’t get me started on her savior complex; she couldn’t save anyone, not even herself.
Despite these flaws, Zi Xian’s acting and godly looks made it bearable. He carried this drama with the grace of a true star. The FL, while unrecognizable without makeup, delivered a strong performance.
In the end, this drama is like that weird dish you try at a buffet—not great, but worth a taste. One-time watch, skip liberally.
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This review may contain spoilers
A short-length masterpiece.
❤OST and BGM are so so well done, styling costumes and settings are more than just achingly gorgeous--->they hold deliberate meaning. Cinematography is shot with a careful eye for beauty in details. Lighting was always on point. And quite frankly Im floored to see such high quality in such a short length drama.❤Acting was EXCELLENT. From everyone. All the actors and actresses gave 100% to their roles, and it really shows.
❤THE DIALOGUE was so so SO good, it is really whats at the heart of this drama, is an excellent script. Every now and then a chinese drama will come out that shows such an astonishingly masterful grasp of human nature and human psychology that it blows everybody else outta the water. This is one of those dramas. It tells its story with elegance and rawness and incredible depth.
I have to establish all that, because of what I'm about to tell you now: IT WAS FEKKIN HORRIBLE. Not the storytelling. Just the story.
Theres LOTS of works of art where the story is basically horrible. Voltaire's 'Candide'. Sophie's Choice. Schindler's List. There Will Be Blood. Romeo and Juliet. A Million Stars Falling From the Sky. And.... yeah this is one of those. Its fekkin messed up, offensive, and tragic. Its like having your feelings tenderized with a meat mallet, deep fried til burnt and then autopsied with a plastic spork.
If you have triggers, this will trigger them. Even eating disorder triggers. All the triggers are here. If you are sensitive... or previously traumatized.... if you are just looking for something fun or easy..... if you expect a drama to do all your moralizing and thinking for you.... you gonna have a BAD time. A REAL bad time.
Because not only is it horrible, it is unrelentingly horrible. Theres no comic relief ANYWHERE. Theres no cheesy acting, or bad makeup. Theres no goofy side characters. Theres no 2ML 2FL side story. No CGI to cringe at. No cute cats or adorable children. No dumb tropey stuff. Everything is beautiful, emotional, poignant, aching, sentimental, cruel, torrid.
The format of short-length drama, in this instance, is like a series of poems the director is giving us. Each one is beautiful, deliberate, painstakingly created. This was, quite simply, fine cinema. It elevates the short-length format into something really awesome that has real artistic merit.
This drama, at its core, is about love as it relates to sin, atonement, and forgiveness... ML has committed a grave sin against the FL he loves dearly. And the FL who loves him dearly also, is faced with a choice of whether to forgive him or not. The questions this drama asks are not for the faint of heart... because when this show is through with you, youre gonna feel kinda like you just stepped out of the spin cycle on a heavy duty washing machine.
You better have a fluffy drama and a pint of ice cream lined up for when you finish this, cuz u gonna need it.
I basically hate tragedies, but this one was stellar. Grips your attention and doesnt let go till you are bleeding from your eyes and begging for mercy.
9.5/10... Absolutely incredible.
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This review may contain spoilers
Note: trigger tags hidden under spoilers.
So, you've come to watch anyone's daughter (female lead) revenge the deaths of her family, clan, and friends. Her badass self, taking no prisoners, while giving no quarter. The target in her life is her former lover (male lead), and his achilles heel is her. He'll do anything to keep her close, and she'll do anything for revenge. And, I mean anything. A push me pull you on an insane path maddening with grief.How many dramas have you watched with this plot line? Where the insanity spiraled out of control with filters off. Or did it fizzle out for the easiest ending; neither bitter, nor sweet. Because the premise was written out of the story. This cast did well, and the leads' story was disquieting as it took us where other daughter-revenge plots have failed to go. I appreciated it for what it was - a dark, unique take.
If you have ever hated-on lackluster general/prince/official/scholar/king's daughter revenge plots - F'xd. Recommended.
Note: trigger tags hidden under spoilers.
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THE BEST KISS IS THE ONE IN THE LAST EP
Male lead is a trigger warning by himself - i almost could't make it to the end but IF U DO, I PROMISE U THE LAST KISS IS THE BEST IN THE WHOLE DRAMA SERIES!!!It's an endless portrayal of craziness, toxicity and red flags in a relationship.. Even the comments on the video was saying that normally the second male lead is the one doing this kind of things but yeap, the male lead does it all and goes beyond.
Tough time trying to finish it, I was here for He Xuan Lin mainly... her crying scenes are so damn on point. I love her portrayal of the female lead!
Summary: can watch only once. I dont think I will be able to stomach watching any more than that because of the male lead's character... it was painful to see what the female lead went through.
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This review may contain spoilers
Fantastic Acting Story is Predictable
I would only say watch this just for the actors cause they did incredible with the story they were given but don't watch this if you don't want to watch a very toxic, abusive and obsessive male lead.Yan Zi Xian- This actor was incredible to watch even if he did play a horrible male lead. His intense stares that he did throughout this drama were crazy and I just think he deserves some love after playing this character. It is obvious he is horrible and you will not root for the best for him at all.
He Xuan Lin- She was also amazing in this and loved the way they dressed her in this the costumes were beautiful but I also have to say though I really didn't like the decisions they had her make in this. That is nothing to do with the actress that is her character. Would of definitely loved a different ending for her for sure.
There is so much you really can say on this drama. It is definitely one of those what the heck did I just watch moments.
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i was not wasting my time at all watching this. such a gem.
do not too quick rate this drama low just because you dont like the toxicity. yes, i know it is morally low of him (ML) but look at the overall values of this drama before giving your rating.the plot is good. from ally, to lover, to enemy.
1st - a sickly prince and a traitor's daughter together seeking for revenge.
2nd - a loving couple, and here comes the obstacle in their love story (the duke's daughter and son)
3rd - they became enemy. i wont give spoiler how it happens. the FL's affection towards her lover started fading and the ML became toxicly obsessive.
4th - the best ending for them. they suffered enough. and it is the ending that all toxic MLs deserve.
both main leads are great in potraying their characters. especially the ML, his microexpressions whenever he changes his mood is really good. this is my 1st time watching them acting, i will definitely look into and watch their other dramas later.
the cinematography is on par with other high budget cdramas. i love how the director brilliantly use the shades, the lighting, the sounds, and the camera works through out this drama to emphasize on the actors' emotions and to deliver the feels to us.
the martial arts is good. they are clearly not stingy when it comes to budget for the fighting scenes.
overall: rewatch worthy and highly recommended.
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Insane
I’m a lover for dark romance but holyyyy shi- this was like next level id thought that hmmm maybe it would end the way I think but nooo THIS WAS GOODDD!!!!!literally shed tears first time seeing the fl and damn she’s such a great actress and the ml I love all his dramas!!!!!! Man I seriously love this mini drama!!!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Great acting but oh so toxic relationship between the FM/ML
That was a dark and toxic relationship between the two leads. As expected nothing good came from it.On the other hand the ML and FL both acted amazing and convincingly.
Rewatch, it was quite abusive and I think once would be enough to watch it. But will be looking out of the leads other programs to watch in the future.
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This review may contain spoilers
A tale of hatred and obsession wrapped in love.
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Plot Summary:
This is a story built around the intense emotions of love and hate. It beautifully portrays how "love" never allows distance, while "hate" never lets closeness prevail.
Characters:
Yue Jin Chen:
A boy who seems to have everything but is left with nothing. I found his character captivating, and the actor who portrayed him did a remarkable job. His emotional conflict was gripping and left a strong impact throughout the series.
Gu Jun Yao:
A girl whose world shattered with the destruction of her clan. She returns as a martial artist, seeking revenge after many years. However, her character was a bit of a letdown. Despite her background, she continuously made impulsive decisions and failed in every fight, relying on Yue Jin Chen to save her time and again. This inconsistency in her portrayal weakened the storyline.
What I Liked:
The concept of "love and hate" driving the plot was intriguing. Yue Jin Chen's character and his emotional journey were the highlight for me. The two standout moments in the series were especially heart-wrenching and impactful:
1. The scene where the "wing is cut", leaving a lasting emotional scar.
2. The chilling nightmare with the line, "I will do it very gently." Both moments hit hard and left a lasting impression.
What Could Have Been Better:
While the core concept was strong, the narrative and character arcs were not as well executed. When a character's background is established, it should be reflected consistently in their actions. Unfortunately, the characters often contradicted their backstories, lessening the emotional impact. Repetition of the scene was not a good idea its weaken the impact.
Gu Jun Yao, in particular, should have been portrayed as a stronger, more competent fighter given her quest for revenge. Yet, she came across as reckless and overly reliant on the hero. Additionally, the plot's political intrigue was underdeveloped. Despite so much planning and plotting, none of the key figures—kings, ministers—seemed to be aware or involved, making them feel invisible. This lack of engagement from powerful characters left the story feeling incomplete.
The political tension could have been more thrilling if the series had explored the rivalry between the two sides with more complexity, showing them outmaneuvering each other at different points. This would have added depth and excitement to the plot.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, the series was enjoyable if you're watching for the push and pull of love and hate. Although it had some narrative weaknesses and missed opportunities with certain characters, it delivered moments of emotional intensity that made it worth watching. If you're in the mood for a story that tugs at the heartstrings with its themes of pain and passion, this is worth a try.
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short revenge
First of all, the issue was quickly dismissed as a short series. The editing was rushed. In the very first scene, hostility is created when no one knows anyone else. They organize instant assassinations. Before I even understood the issue, the revenge started. The revenge of revenge has begun. Everyone is an enemy to each other, no one knows. The fact that it happened suddenly and that it was edited urgently distracted the topic. While watching it, I thought a lot about whether I should say something about the fact that it happened so quickly or how it was brought to a fait accompli. That's why I watched the first four episodes of the series and stopped. In my opinion, I think it would have been better if it had been a long-running series and had started with a more detailed, more striking and slower-paced story and fiction as a revenge series. It didn't happen like that.Was this review helpful to you?
