Sia K. R.

This is a love story, in a war stricken land. Two people, two enemies unintentionally grow to love each other, while navigating amidst the weight of their responsibilities.
The story is really intriguing and the cast did an amazing job, bringing the characters to life. I especially feel the need to mention Ryan Cheng. In my opinion he was the backbone of this show. Everyone did great, but I have to admit that whenever he was on frame, his presence was always noticeable, his acting is memorable and he just pulls the audience in. I liked how there was a clear distinction between each identity of his, and the switch between them could be easily noticed. Also he is literally gorgeous, he is both athletic and handsome, exuding a strong and reliable vibe which really suits the general archetype, but with a hint of mystery and charm added in it. His eyes and micro expressions were amazing.
I also LOVED Tan Kai's portrayal as Li Wei (Li Shuang's adoptive father). He was a perfect cast as a strong, reliable and battle-hardened commander. Mr Tan Kai beautifully showcased a seasoned general who also is a loving father to his children and is willing to sacrifice himself for their happiness and the common good.
Song Yi portrayed Li Shuang (General Li) quite well. She is very pretty and has a very beautiful smile. General Li was not over the top imposing nor too cold, like we see in some other portrayals of female generals. She is strong and resilient, but also has a softer side, which can either be good or bad, depending on the situation. Her acting was not bad, but unfortunately I have to admit that I was expecting a lot more in certain scenes. I believe that her eyes needed to be more expressive and I expected to see a bit more work in her micro expressions. Her eyes felt a bit void of heavy and complex emotions. To me they usually conveyed basic emotions, which can be a bit flat. What I mean is, in certain situations, we can experience complex emotions, which are a mix of basic emotions. For instance a blend of emotions like sadness, fear, anger, and denial all together mixed to showcase grief. If instead we only show sadness, it can come off a bit flat. And that's exactly my complaint here. I felt like her eyes usually didn't convey complex emotions, which in turn made the acting feel a bit flat at times.
Gao Mao Tong did very well as Ji Ran, I actually felt really bad for him at the end (at that point I was crying). To me it looked like he'd never be with anyone in his life (as he had said so before), in order to serve his country. Beyond his love for the country, in a way it felt like he had correlated his love for the FL, with his dedication to his country. The more he couldn't confess to the fl, the more he dedicated he was. He knew the FL wanted to achieve peace and prosperity for the people and so, since he couldn't be with her, he focused on preserving her life's work/ goals. We can see this mindset brewing even before the FL's "death", in the first episodes, as he probably thought it almost impossible to be with her.
I also particularly like how Lu Xin ended up with Mo Yin and not Ji Ran. Her relationship with Ji Ran was unequal, had a skewed dynamic since the beginning, as she was the one following around and even harassing him, with him clearly setting boundaries and her ignoring them (I'm sorry but stealing and washing his undergarments WITHOUT approval, is harassment and creepy). With Mo Yin they started on an equal standing, slowly got to know each other, became closer and ended up falling in love. It felt organic and they actually were a very cute couple, where they mutually respected each other. They were equals, It wasn't a situation of one running after, trying to please the other, begging for crumbs of love.
Darren Chen was great as Mo Yin and so was Bi Wen Jun as Su Mu Yang. I actually felt pity for the crown prince in the end and somewhere in the 1st half (when we found out his father had threatened him with the fl's life, in order to marry another girl). He was in love with the fl, but didn't manage to keep her. He always seemed eager to be with her and lost her because he tried to protect her. In that situation and considering how he had grown up, he really seemed pitiful and I honestly felt bad for him. Not to say that he was a saint, cause he absolutely was NOT. I just find it sad how he couldn't be with the one he loved, and could literally do nothing about it, as his own father would either kill her or her family (if they tried to elope or something). Towards the end he becomes more and more antagonistic, and I kind of doubt how he could become a reliable king. Overall I'd say that he is cowardly, cunning and a pitiful character.
Zhao Yuan Yuan did really well as Empress Dowager Qin.
The FL's brother was really annoying for most of the novel, he was extremely impulsive and naïve. I felt really bad for Qiao Er (the guard friend of the fl that died- played by Rain Lu) and for Ouyang Jun (played by Liu Yi Hong), they would've had a beautiful life together.
All in all a good drama to watch.