This review may contain spoilers
The epitome of "Strong start, weak finish"
I started watching this show the moment it began airing, so let's start with me putting it out there that I was part of the crowd staying up to all kinds of ungodly hours just to watch the latest episode released. Let me tell you, the first few episodes were ABSOLUTE FIRE. Playful, chaotic, and even a bit naughty at times (ngl the naughty scenes were iconic). Like I said, this went on for a few episodes, and it didn't take long for the audience to be HEAVILY invested in the series, myself included.
Hou Ming Hao is a brilliant actor, and few actors in the business (especially those born in the '90s) can boast being featured in as many cdramas as this man (with the exception of Cheng Yi... who is another dark horse in the industry). Lu Yu Xiao did a fantastic job as the main FL, and though I had seen her in a few cdramas before (including "Love You Seven Times," "My Journey to You," and "Blossoms in Adversity"), her talent and outstanding potential never quite registered with me before watching Love in the Clouds. Since then, she's been on my radar for sure, as I'll be watching anything she features in from now on as well.
Love in the Clouds was also my introduction to the actors Yu Cheng En (the deadly cutie pie) and Quan Yi Lun (the not-so-deadly cutie pie). I'm still a little shaken by the fact that Quan Yi Lun played a supporting role in "I Am Nobody," "Blossom," "Moonlight Mystique," "Legend of Zang Hai," and "Moonlit Reunion," and yet I can't recall seeing him in any of them. Anyway, now to my thoughts on the storyline:
The scriptwriting started to unravel later on in the series (there was a bit of teasing going on to make us viewers wonder about who the main villain of the show would be). Hu Yun Hao did a fantastic job playing Mu Qi Bai, but it became apparent pretty quickly that he wasn't the main villain. The show then tossed the ball to a number of minor villains that did very little to add to the plot and/or develop the storyline. Finally, we land on Situ Ling, the cute, cuddly, but (apparently) conflicted stabby stabby villain... who the show was subtly setting up to become a villain from the start, but... his transformation and even his demeanor and antics after his transformation just weren't convincing enough, imo.
Beyond that, the story started jumping all over the place... you are the chosen one... no, he is the chosen one... this is what happened... no, that is what happened... I am your master.... no, I mean.... I AM YOUR FATHER. It was just.. too random, and too much to take in. The last few episodes of the series felt like a rush job to tie together loose ends, some choices didn't make sense, some outcomes didn't make sense, everything felt convenient but illogical. And all us viewers had to hold on to (so we could make it to the end of the series and not rage quit) were our pleasant memories of the first half of the series, which again, was impeccable and not to be missed. So this is a tough one indeed. My opinion is to give the show a watch, but set your expectation bar SUPER low so you can tolerate it to the very end. 7.5/10
Hou Ming Hao is a brilliant actor, and few actors in the business (especially those born in the '90s) can boast being featured in as many cdramas as this man (with the exception of Cheng Yi... who is another dark horse in the industry). Lu Yu Xiao did a fantastic job as the main FL, and though I had seen her in a few cdramas before (including "Love You Seven Times," "My Journey to You," and "Blossoms in Adversity"), her talent and outstanding potential never quite registered with me before watching Love in the Clouds. Since then, she's been on my radar for sure, as I'll be watching anything she features in from now on as well.
Love in the Clouds was also my introduction to the actors Yu Cheng En (the deadly cutie pie) and Quan Yi Lun (the not-so-deadly cutie pie). I'm still a little shaken by the fact that Quan Yi Lun played a supporting role in "I Am Nobody," "Blossom," "Moonlight Mystique," "Legend of Zang Hai," and "Moonlit Reunion," and yet I can't recall seeing him in any of them. Anyway, now to my thoughts on the storyline:
The scriptwriting started to unravel later on in the series (there was a bit of teasing going on to make us viewers wonder about who the main villain of the show would be). Hu Yun Hao did a fantastic job playing Mu Qi Bai, but it became apparent pretty quickly that he wasn't the main villain. The show then tossed the ball to a number of minor villains that did very little to add to the plot and/or develop the storyline. Finally, we land on Situ Ling, the cute, cuddly, but (apparently) conflicted stabby stabby villain... who the show was subtly setting up to become a villain from the start, but... his transformation and even his demeanor and antics after his transformation just weren't convincing enough, imo.
Beyond that, the story started jumping all over the place... you are the chosen one... no, he is the chosen one... this is what happened... no, that is what happened... I am your master.... no, I mean.... I AM YOUR FATHER. It was just.. too random, and too much to take in. The last few episodes of the series felt like a rush job to tie together loose ends, some choices didn't make sense, some outcomes didn't make sense, everything felt convenient but illogical. And all us viewers had to hold on to (so we could make it to the end of the series and not rage quit) were our pleasant memories of the first half of the series, which again, was impeccable and not to be missed. So this is a tough one indeed. My opinion is to give the show a watch, but set your expectation bar SUPER low so you can tolerate it to the very end. 7.5/10
Was this review helpful to you?
