Editorials 
This review may contain spoilers
A Generic Republican Era themed Toxic love story held by the strong chemistry between the leads.
It is pretty much follows the same cliche republican chinese drama tropes with a toxic ML being obsessed with FL and doing everything to have her irrespective of whether she wants to be with him or not. In the process he will cross lines, hurt others and even the FL herself to make sure she falls for him and by the end does succeeds but what follows is a path of trauma and pain. The strong point of these dramas isn't the storylines but the chemistry between the pairs and it is pretty strong between them.
Cheng Lei nails the role of a morally grey man who is ambitious but grounded, romantic but toxic, caring but doesn't shy away from hurting the one he loves. He will have you hate him but at times swoon too. By E14 he has really gone from a red to a black flag. Guy went from pursuing an engaged woman to straight up blackmailing and sexually assaulting her. Knowing how these dramas work the makers will try to give him a redemption arc by showing his caring and sacrificial side but I don't see there is any for the fact he tried to r@pe her in the car.
Xu Ruo Han too does well with her character which thankfully is too some extent different from the novel. Her character is strong willed, clever and doesn't shy away from standing up for the right thing. I am glad the writers changed her character traits and hopefully it stays that way as in the novel she was pretty much a doormat who was abused and passed around between powerful men with each wanting control of her. Even in the dramas your heart will break for her and make you hate ML's guts for the pain he puts her through.
The pacing is decent and editing has been good. It is a 40 episodes show so one can say things won't be rushed but what I don't want to see a plot being dragged unnecessarily. Also as for the story I hope they do change things be it plot or character arcs from the novel since it just went haywire and a totally diabolical by the end. I am not expecting a happy end but even if they do go for a sad one, it better not be like the novel.
Cheng Lei nails the role of a morally grey man who is ambitious but grounded, romantic but toxic, caring but doesn't shy away from hurting the one he loves. He will have you hate him but at times swoon too. By E14 he has really gone from a red to a black flag. Guy went from pursuing an engaged woman to straight up blackmailing and sexually assaulting her. Knowing how these dramas work the makers will try to give him a redemption arc by showing his caring and sacrificial side but I don't see there is any for the fact he tried to r@pe her in the car.
Xu Ruo Han too does well with her character which thankfully is too some extent different from the novel. Her character is strong willed, clever and doesn't shy away from standing up for the right thing. I am glad the writers changed her character traits and hopefully it stays that way as in the novel she was pretty much a doormat who was abused and passed around between powerful men with each wanting control of her. Even in the dramas your heart will break for her and make you hate ML's guts for the pain he puts her through.
The pacing is decent and editing has been good. It is a 40 episodes show so one can say things won't be rushed but what I don't want to see a plot being dragged unnecessarily. Also as for the story I hope they do change things be it plot or character arcs from the novel since it just went haywire and a totally diabolical by the end. I am not expecting a happy end but even if they do go for a sad one, it better not be like the novel.
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