sobak

Action is in the drama (there are fights and all out battles), but only when necessary. The majority of this drama is about political strategy and power struggles. If you want a drama driven by action as in fighting, this is not it (I think Ever Night is). I recommend this drama to everyone as a must see, but you also need to be in the mood to follow the details of the plot because there are a lot of characters and a lot going on.

Let's just say this is the wrong drama to watch if you're looking for romance. There is love, and there are couples. However, this is not a drama about a couple trying to go against all odds to be together. I suggest looking for a different drama - Ashes of Love, Eternal Love, and Love and Destiny.

Just finished rewatching, and it is still one of my top dramas ever (including kdramas and jdramas). I think the drama is even better during the rewatch. The ending isn't the best and CG of the battle is not the best, but everything else is quite perfect. I love all the characters, and even those with the smallest roles are memorable. One of the few dramas that would have been fine with more episodes.

The drama is super fun. I am only up to episode 6, but so far it feels like a wacky period rom com done right. There are cliche tropes, but then the scene plays out in full and it's not necessarily what I expected.

I have no issues with the fl not falling for the ml immediately. She is the writer of the script, and she is set on returning home. The last thing to cross her mind would be to romance her own imaginary character. Also, because she knows how the drama is supposed to play out, the ml possibly liking her would not cross her mind. For her, he's supposed to conquer the city and fall in love with Chu Chu. Chu Chu is her ideal fl while she considers herself useless. Why would her, murderous intents aside, perfect ml ever fancy anyone else other than her perfect fl?

Anyways, this is an ongoing drama, so I'm just hoping they wrap it up well. I don't usually watch ongoing cdramas because they tend to have terrible middle parts, so please don't fail me, drama!

Acting is top notch and sets are gorgeous. The pacing is very very slow though. I understand why it may turn off people, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. So far so good up to episode 8.

The drama got interesting for me around 11. The beginning was slower paced with so many characters that I also had a difficult time staying fully invested.

Why do the actors look ridiculously pale? or retouched? Also, some of the scenes look overexposed/way too bright. Feels like there is a cloudy filter at times too. Anways, the show has a slower pace than I expected. I'm not sucked in yet, at episode 9, but will keep going.

I started this! I know it's supposed to be blood, sweat, and tears. I am worried, but also super excited. Just from the beginning of the first episode I can tell it will be gorgeous.

Curious if anyone knows where the best english subs are - viki or amazon prime?

I 'm okay with dramas that don't stick completely to their source material as long as the drama is well done since it's impossible to stay 100% true to written material. However, why would they give Xu Feng's lines to Run Yu? That just doesn't sound like the right thing to do especially with how little they gave the male lead. Is there anything that you felt was well done in the drama vs novel? I've read some people say that they liked some things for not sticking to the novel.

I agree some of the choices they made for the main leads made them seem selfish and actions questionable. For instance, Xu Feng pursuing Run Yu's fiancee, the red string of fate in Mortal Realm, and Xu Feng flippantly glossing over his parents' horrible deeds. The more I thought about the first two points, the more I was okay and able to see it from all POV. In the end, I am firmly Xu Feng - Jin Mi. The last point I made I am still annoyed with but leave it to poor writing.

Although, I appreciate that Run Yu was not a black/white type of villain and had a backstory to justify his desire for revenge. They really did not balance that out with having one for Xu Feng. This is why a lot of people only looked at things from his POV because Xu Feng was less developed.

I was able to keep supporting Xu Feng because Deng Lun acted well and brought some depth, the beginning and Mortal Realm (especially) did a good job establishing Xu Feng and Jin Mi's relationship, and Run Yu kept heading down a bad path (also, I don't think Run Yu had a reason to treat/kill Xu Feng so horribly; if you're willing to kill your brother over a girl...I can't quite side with you there). Also, I felt Run Yu when it came to Jin Mi was not really love, but desperation, loneliness and selfishness. I just could not support him with Jin Mi.

Apologies for the long post. I do have a lot of thoughts on this drama lol

Thank you for this! I was curious to see what order I should check out his work. I'm the opposite in that I prefer historical/period cdramas, but I'm willing to check out modern cdramas for Deng Lun :)

Loved Deng Lun in Ashes of Love. He added depth to a character that wasn't really given much. I hope he does more historical dramas because he looked amazing in everything in AOL. Overall, the drama could've utilized him and his character so much more.

I haven't gone through his filmography yet, but have been seeing bits and pieces and looking them up. It seems he has a decent variety in the characters he chooses. Also, they seem like attractive characters, but the dramas themselves are not too great (though I don't think he has done anything terrible?). He does seem to work a lot - dramas and variety shows - so there is a lot for me to go through! I've heard Mr. Fighting is his best modern cdrama, so will definitely check that out.

I, too, struggled with this. Technically, Xufeng and Jinmi meet and establish a relationship before anyone knows she is Water Immortal's daughter. Xufeng feels like Jinmi and him have a relationship, and he is trying to fight for it. He doesn't want her to get married with someone she is not in love with. Another way to look at it is he wants her to have a choice in who she marries. If Jinmi truly loved Runyu, I think he would back off though he would still pine after her. This whole time Xufeng does not know about the Yun Elixir, but is basing his actions on what he has with Jinmi so far.

Runyu is also not without fault. He knows about her being the daughter AND the Yun Elixir then uses it to his advantage by saying Jinmi and him love each other to make sure the Water Immortal doesn't have other thoughts about the engagement. I think that was why I couldn't fully side with Runyu. The engagement is pre-arranged, and does not consider Jinmi's feelings/thoughts. Runyu is also not thinking about Jinmi when he declares their love, but he's doing it out of loneliness and desperation. She only goes along with it because she feels it is her duty.

I actually love all three characters though Xufeng really does not get enough character development. I think a huge part of my liking of Xufeng stems from Deng Lun doing well with the little he had.

I can't hate Run Yu like the characters do in the drama, and I think that is what is preventing me from fully getting invested. I wish they didn't all treat him like a completely evil character who is like the Demon King Gu. I'm still rooting for Xu Feng and Jin Mi while hoping (with very minimal hope) that Run Yu finds some peace and happiness.

Restarted after pausing at episode 38 because it was getting tiring to watch after the Mortal Realm. Not a perfect drama, but it is getting interesting again after THAT episode.

I am mad that we finally get a sageuk, but it has the shit for ML. Sageuks are so rare these days too because they cost so much and no room for ppl.

TV Chosun actually spends quite a bit on their sageuks, so the production quality is pretty high for this. However, it doesn't change the fact that the ML is Park Shit Hoo.

Rumors are his wealthy family is buying him roles

Saw up to ep 16. This drama is turning out to be exactly what I wanted! Cheese + ridiculousness + pretty, lots of pretty + main OTP with chemistry + skinship, lots of it :)

(side note: the actors must be so cold...also, I hope the ML's back is okay from lifting the FL so often lol)

Even with the meh reviews, I started this drama hoping it will fulfill my current need for something that is all fluff with pretty people in love.

I am absolutely in love with this one right now (only up to episode 4). Been on a youth drama marathon, but this one so far has a more natural vibe with a real life feel than the other ones I've watched. Love the main leads. They really feel like high school kids. On the other hand, the second male lead looks so much older. Also, he annoys me with his actions, but not enough (yet) for me to completely skip him.