This review may contain spoilers
Some dramas are meant to be enjoyable without moving you to death
It was a good drama : the acting was on top, the costumes were exquisite (might be the best I’ve seen in c-dramas), the chemistry between the main lead was great.
I really had fun at first, the main leads' relationship was like partners in crime, I loved their meetings around hot pot to prepare the next move.
But the more the story progressed the more it became heavy, more than I’ve thought. It added depth to the characters so it’s a good thing in itself but I won’t lie I liked the beginning more than the rest of the drama.
Those Zhang San’s Diaries were quite heartbreaking. Those scholars’ fates was also very unfortunate. At the end so many characters lost their lives which I found sad but sometimes not necessary honestly : too much sacrifice kills the sacrifice.
Overall the story was good but I can’t lie I was also bothered by some few things
- Sometimes it became a little bit « dramatic » and the pace was not the worst but maybe was the reason why I found myself having trouble to connect with the drama at some point.
- I didn’t like the fact the little Crown Prince was neglected like that. I mean Dan & Wanyin were so moved by the fate of all these 2D characters but they couldn’t care less about him.
Of course giving the way he was conceived, it would be complicated for Dan to care about him. But letting the CP’s in the Empress Dowager’s clutch felt like a nonsense for me. Even if he can’t really care for his son, he can relate exactly to this feeling of being under the Empress’ control, is it really logical for him to abandon his son to this witch ? Even Wanyin, who showed real emotions for the 2D characters, never bothered about him.
I just mean his fate was also sad so I would’ve preferred the show addressing this issue properly instead of acting like he wasn’t even there, it makes all this talks and emotions about the 2D characters somehow shallow and a little bit hypocritical imo
- My other issue is less important, just a question of preference. I find obsessive men repulsive and Dan showed some big signs of it, he was so stubborn about Wanyin at some point I was annoyed honestly. But I guess I will put this on his maniac episodes and the feeling of finally finding the one who saved him from his sad existence.
- Last issue : the villains and specially the Empress were under developed. We knew she hated the emperor but the reason wasn’t clear enough. It would’ve been cool if they explained, it would’ve added some depth to her instead of giving her a one-sided personality
I was waiting for this one for quite a while and I was not disappointed overall. I still recommend it, even if it’s flawed.
I really had fun at first, the main leads' relationship was like partners in crime, I loved their meetings around hot pot to prepare the next move.
But the more the story progressed the more it became heavy, more than I’ve thought. It added depth to the characters so it’s a good thing in itself but I won’t lie I liked the beginning more than the rest of the drama.
Those Zhang San’s Diaries were quite heartbreaking. Those scholars’ fates was also very unfortunate. At the end so many characters lost their lives which I found sad but sometimes not necessary honestly : too much sacrifice kills the sacrifice.
Overall the story was good but I can’t lie I was also bothered by some few things
- Sometimes it became a little bit « dramatic » and the pace was not the worst but maybe was the reason why I found myself having trouble to connect with the drama at some point.
- I didn’t like the fact the little Crown Prince was neglected like that. I mean Dan & Wanyin were so moved by the fate of all these 2D characters but they couldn’t care less about him.
Of course giving the way he was conceived, it would be complicated for Dan to care about him. But letting the CP’s in the Empress Dowager’s clutch felt like a nonsense for me. Even if he can’t really care for his son, he can relate exactly to this feeling of being under the Empress’ control, is it really logical for him to abandon his son to this witch ? Even Wanyin, who showed real emotions for the 2D characters, never bothered about him.
I just mean his fate was also sad so I would’ve preferred the show addressing this issue properly instead of acting like he wasn’t even there, it makes all this talks and emotions about the 2D characters somehow shallow and a little bit hypocritical imo
- My other issue is less important, just a question of preference. I find obsessive men repulsive and Dan showed some big signs of it, he was so stubborn about Wanyin at some point I was annoyed honestly. But I guess I will put this on his maniac episodes and the feeling of finally finding the one who saved him from his sad existence.
- Last issue : the villains and specially the Empress were under developed. We knew she hated the emperor but the reason wasn’t clear enough. It would’ve been cool if they explained, it would’ve added some depth to her instead of giving her a one-sided personality
I was waiting for this one for quite a while and I was not disappointed overall. I still recommend it, even if it’s flawed.
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