This review may contain spoilers
A little rant about this drama
The drama is visually so well-made, actually no, I think well-made is an understatement, it's wonderfully crafted, from the real locations, to the beautiful costumes and the cinematic shots, I was literally in awe from episode one.And I have no problem with most of the cast, I see some people complain about Zhang Kangle as Yan Xun, honestly his acting isn't even bad, I have seen so, so much worse in cdramaland that has made me wanna bash my head into a wall. His acting is good and he exudes the dangerous aura I believe a character with a tragic backstory like Yan Xun should have, I mean I found him literally mesmerizing in some scenes, which is not something I could've said about his performance in Legend of the female general- I found his character utterly forgettable there. Li Yunrui is a favorite of mine, I'd be watching even the dumbest of productions if he's in it, just looking at his face is enough tbh, the plot doesn't need to make sense at all 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Here though, it's obvious from the first moment we see him on screen that he's been preparing to give a solid performance as Zhuge Yue, he's understood the core of his character well and he doesn't mess around. Every time he's on screen the drama gets a new dimension, it feels like a serious piece and not just an idol drama. The same could be said for 90% of the cast.
Buuuut
Huangyang Tian Tian as Chu Qiao just doesn't work.
No matter how hard I tried to like her as her character, she just doesn't match the expertise, the experience and the maturity that playing Chu Qiao requires. I mean here we have a female general who's been through hell and back, experiences which furnish her with enough material to do her job right and earn her merits. And they're trying to sell me all of this by casting an actress with a baby face and acting chops of a student in a school production of some famous play. I'm supposed to believe what other characters are saying about her, that she's formidable and fierce, even though every time she's on screen she just doesn't deliver. I've seen this being done with 80% of male leads who are supposed to be generals in dramas and it's annoying and honestly so overdone to the point I wanna break something when it happens again. If you have a role of a fearless and scary general you find an actor who looks and acts the part, don't cast a kpop idol for God's sake!!!!!!!
I nearly laughed when I saw her dressed in those massive fur coats in newer episodes, standing next to Yunrui and other characters she looks like a literal baby, not someone who's commanded an army let's be real here people come on! The fact that she was still a minor when she made this also affects the production quality in the largest. There's a lot of longing, passion, some visceral emotions between Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue and Yan Xun as well that they had to obviously tone down solely because she was underage and because the age difference between her and the two actors just doesn't allow the existence of intimate scenes. Now I know this isn't a romance drama, but the love between Zhuge Yue and Chu Qiao, as well as Yan Xun's unhealthy obsession with her are a driving force and if it isn't properly delivered on screen , then the whole thing falls apart. Which is what is happening right now. I find most of her scenes with her male co-stars downright awkward and hard to watch, every time Yunrui lifts her in his arms they look like siblings, like real siblings, not the cdrama equivalent 🤣🤣🤣 And for all they've held back with her character, they're trying to fix by adding more intimate scenes for the side characters which comes off as uneven and unbalanced tbh.
And I am extremely disappointed because I was looking forward to this drama and I tried to like it and I do like it for the most part until she shows up on screen. I have nothing against the actress, but it's clear as a day she's ventured into something she's too young to understand and properly express.
Moments that I absolutely loved (these are some that I can remember right now): Zhuge Yue obliterating people dressed as the fake king of Ximeng- so hot 🥵
The scene where Yan Xun is being revived in the middle of an icy desert with ravens swarming him, and then he just opens his eyes, springs to his feet half-naked, while the black fur and his long hair sway in the wind? *CHEF'S KISS* LOVED IT!
Oh and crazy drunk princess reciting her sob story while drinking more wine, surrounded by paintings of a half-naked Yan Xun. GIRL SAAAMEEEEEE 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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