FL Was Like a Robot With No Personality.
I started watching this after bad luck with picking dramas. I'd paused another drama to watch this. I should have sticked with it. In terms of character and personality I think Sword and Brocade lacks it. The FL was very stiff and mechanical. Her smile seemed fake. I've seen the actress in other dramas and she's acted better there.I also had an issue with how they didn't age the FL up from fifteen to eighteen. I kept thinking about it and it grossed me out. I realise they were going for a degree of historical accuracy and most women married soon after their hairpinning ceremony at 15 (which was really 13-14 because they were classed 1 upon birth and became1 year older on every New Year). I think the tipping point that really got me to stop was the bedroom scene after marriage. The music made it out to be a joke...
Don't get me wrong, from what I saw there's no sexual assault in this on camera. It's just the situation really didn't need that music. It would have worked better if the scene was shorter with what takes place hurried along for the viewer to see with different music. I just feel the scene could have worked so much better now I'm writing this review. It could have had a completely different feel and epic music to accompany it.
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I wish the story was better there was no logic.
It feels like the writer thought that in ancient times everyone was stupid - they weren't. This follows those dramas that keep saying "Look at how stupid they were! Modern day is supreme!" It's kinda disrespectful. True, they didn't follow scientific practice but they were in no way stupid.This drama lacked any type of story. It felt like it was the first draft. They should have given the actors better dialogue and run through the script a few more times. This had the potential to be really good, but it was ruined by sloppy writing. It also doesn't look that good visually. Where is the contract in lighting?
I think the writers should watch shows like Fated Hearts, Veil of Shadows, and Prisoner of Beauty on how to light the set up. They also should take pointers on other popular shows on how to write well.
It's a shame. This could have been good.
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It Felt Like She Was Grooming Him
I felt grossed out because they met when he was a child and he grew up with her as a guardian figure. She felt like his mother and he had a crush on her???? And she likes him back????It felt like she was grooming him to be her lover. It felt so gross.
ACTING
I think the actors did well. I didn't see much of the story because I was so grossed out hoping it would get better.
STORY
With a different premise, this would have been great. I can't really tell you how great the story would have been because I dropped it after a few episodes. It was also a while ago that I watched it and all I remember is how grossed out I was. I remember Zhu Xu Dan and a gist of her character's arc, though. I can't believe I didn't drop it from episode 1. Maybe I had hope that it wasn't as bad as I thought. But nope, it was. This has a lot of great actors so I thought it must be good. I must be missing something. Why is everyone liking this?
Don't continue watching things that make you sick, people.
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If you want just romance this is for you
If you enjoy action romance xianxias then this isn't for you. At least from what I see from the first 5 episodes. It's all talking about love and people having crushes... The "love" feels unearned.CHARACTERS
I have to admit I hated the ML almost immediately. He seemed to have a stick up his ***. Seriously I get he's calm and aloof but he was downright petty. IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY!!!!! Anyway... I ended up somehow getting over it quickly when his personality took an almost 180.
The second male lead is plain annoying.
And no one takes the FL seriously to the point it's downright disrespectful and rude but it's just played off as funny. DUDE. I would be so sad and frustrated if I was in her shoes.
SETTING
WOW. Just wow. The set is amazing. It looks so much better than Love You Seven Times. The Heavenly Realm looks real and lived in. They did a great job with the set immersion.
OVERALL
I've given it a 7.5 because I think from the first 5 episodes it has done a good job. I mean, I haven't DNFed after the first one or two episodes so it is doing something right.... It's on hold on my watchlist.
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DO NOT WATCH - It's a waste of time
I came into it excited for another wuxia romance drama and found complete and utter trash. A bunch of people are fighting for this thing - okay - but it's purely executed. You don't get attached to any of the characters. You don't get to digest the world around you - it gets spat in your face and your like "Huh? Okay. Let's uh continue." So you come away with a vague idea but you don't care about ANYTHING.It is pointless to watch.
1/10 only because I couldn't do 0/10
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The FL's Actor is terrible at acting
The FL's actor was really annoying. The set clothing felt unrealistic. They should have at least given the FL better dialogue so she wasn't as annoying. It had a lot of potential, it's a shame.If there's ever a remake, I think they should change the FL's actor. She felt like the same character from Love You Seven Times. She was barely bearable in that. Where is her acting? It felt like her dialogue was that of a child. The actors needed better direction.
The lighting was off, too. I know it's hard to find a series that looks good visually anymore, but come on! Where are the shadows?! Where is the contrast?! If you can't make the story good, at least make it look visually appealing. Take pointers from Veil of Shadows. Look how visually appealing it is sometimes! And Fated Hearts! That looked good too!
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