Completed In 2025

This movie misses the core elements that made the original series so engaging. It lacks the camaraderie, passion, and genuine love for tennis that truly resonates with fans. The characters seem flat and disconnected, and the plot feels rushed and shallow. Trying to fit 68 episodes of the original anime into just two hours leads to a fragmented story that doesn't capture the audience's interest. While Ryoma was the main character in the original, this version oddly shifts the spotlight to Tezuka, leaving the rest of the characters feeling dull and uninspired.

Why was this even created? Who exactly is the target audience? If you were a fan of the Korean version, then you would certainly not choose this adaptation. And if you are unfamiliar with the story and have not experienced the original, this version offers you absolutely no value whatsoever. The plot unfolds at a bewilderingly rapid pace. The context surrounding the events is never sufficiently clarified, and the romance? They might as well have left it out of the story entirely, as there is no development of emotions; they meet, and then, out of nowhere, it occurs. Speaking of feelings, there are none present in this series. The facial expressions, the dialogues, the tears—everything comes across as so flat and disjointed. I find myself utterly speechless; I am just profoundly disappointed. I genuinely wish they had chosen to produce a full-length series because I could have wholeheartedly supported a Chinese version featuring the beloved characters I cherish, but instead, we were given this. I cannot, in good faith, recommend it.

The only reason I stuck with this drama was actor Dai Gao Zheng, who plays the governor/warlord Fang Tian Yi. In contrast, Dong Ting Yao, the female lead, seems unable to think clearly. She consistently makes poor choices, which is infuriating. Ting Yao has an annoying habit of jumping to conclusions without first gathering and analyzing the facts. This not only clouds her judgment but also puts her in risky situations that could have been easily avoided. I can't understand how she talks about seeking revenge while blindly trusting people who are clearly untrustworthy.  

Then there's our morally gray and overly protective Governor, who risks his life to save her. Despite his constant efforts and the many dangers he faces for her, she still doubts him and refuses to trust him. She always plays the victim, no matter the situation, even when she instigated the problem and he had to come to her rescue. This includes him getting shot and stabbed while she acted like he had no right to be upset. Girl, you are the reason—always the reason—it's completely ridiculous.  

The ending... I'm really frustrated. Why introduce Tian Yi only to kill him? He was the only character worth caring about! Why let Ting Yao survive? I expected someone to shoot her until the very last moment of the final episode. Someone needs to take her out because there's no way they killed him and let her live as if she deserves it. To me, she's just as bad as Yu Ze and Ming Yue. And seriously, what's with that guard in the final scene? Is Tian Yi coming back with amnesia, or are we dealing with a doppelgänger? If they throw in a doppelgänger out of nowhere in the last 20 seconds, I can't handle it! This drama was a mess, but the over-the-top acting made me chuckle more than once. It was painfully awkward, yet amusing, so I got a little something out of it. That said, I can't recommend it to anyone unless they really need a laugh? lol.

 If I were the writer, I’d be mortified to release such a half-hearted excuse for a story. Sure, they’re meant to be short, but this is just riddled with plot holes—there’s hardly any story to grab onto. How can we expect viewers to connect with the characters when each episode is just a fragmented mess of what could have been? It’s infuriating, leaving the audience questioning why they even bothered to watch. There are some decent miniseries out there, but this is not one of them.