This review may contain spoilers
Underrated but Solid
Compared to its competitors, Moonlit Order does not boast a star studded cast or a unique plot and (to my knowledge), it is not inspired by any C-Novels. Given this, Moonlit Order does a fantastic job at drawing us into the story.
The plot can be smelt from a mile away and viewers can probably easily guess how the other 23 episodes will play out just by watching the first episode. While predictable, the aptly placed comedic relief and complex, changing roles of each character bring the story to life and make Moonlit Order subtly different from the recent influx of historical dramas featuring strong FLs who are all either generals or commanders.
Huang Jun Jie pulls off his role quite nicely as ML, but if I had to cite a flaw, it would be that his portrayal of characters is too overt. I find that he lacks the ability to subtly convey a character's nuanced emotions or change of heart. In this role, that didn't work against him too much as his character is a more down-to-earth, forthright fellow. HJJ could shape up to be quite a household name if he learns how to do this and becomes a little more charismatic in his acting.
Hankiz Omar was quite a surprise as the FL. As she is of Uyghur descent, she probably is most often compared to actresses like Dilabra and Gulnezer. Of the three, she probably is the least expressive when she acts and has had trouble gaining main roles. While there was significant improvement in her acting, she still has very flat expressions and emotions which make it difficult for viewers to understand the character's mind. The one thing that did catch my eye was her exquisite hand movements during martial arts sequences where she is unarmed. The sequences were most likely inspired by wushu and is reminiscent of 80s-90s Hong Kong style martial arts films. Not only was it a nice touch to highlight her strengths as an actress, it gave credibility to the character as a true martial arts practitioner (and not just another 'strong' FL suited in armor).
The support cast did a nice job as well (huge props to Yan Zi Xian for playing the bad guy, the good guy, and the comedic relief). The production was good as there were no discrepancies in audio, visuals, transitions, etc. The costumes did not look tacky and off-putting. All in all, it was an underrated drama that was solid in execution. Its current rating (at the time of this review) is 7.7 which is slightly lower than it should be when compared to other Cdramas of similar ilk and their inflated ratings, but is truthful in its reflection of the drama.
The plot can be smelt from a mile away and viewers can probably easily guess how the other 23 episodes will play out just by watching the first episode. While predictable, the aptly placed comedic relief and complex, changing roles of each character bring the story to life and make Moonlit Order subtly different from the recent influx of historical dramas featuring strong FLs who are all either generals or commanders.
Huang Jun Jie pulls off his role quite nicely as ML, but if I had to cite a flaw, it would be that his portrayal of characters is too overt. I find that he lacks the ability to subtly convey a character's nuanced emotions or change of heart. In this role, that didn't work against him too much as his character is a more down-to-earth, forthright fellow. HJJ could shape up to be quite a household name if he learns how to do this and becomes a little more charismatic in his acting.
Hankiz Omar was quite a surprise as the FL. As she is of Uyghur descent, she probably is most often compared to actresses like Dilabra and Gulnezer. Of the three, she probably is the least expressive when she acts and has had trouble gaining main roles. While there was significant improvement in her acting, she still has very flat expressions and emotions which make it difficult for viewers to understand the character's mind. The one thing that did catch my eye was her exquisite hand movements during martial arts sequences where she is unarmed. The sequences were most likely inspired by wushu and is reminiscent of 80s-90s Hong Kong style martial arts films. Not only was it a nice touch to highlight her strengths as an actress, it gave credibility to the character as a true martial arts practitioner (and not just another 'strong' FL suited in armor).
The support cast did a nice job as well (huge props to Yan Zi Xian for playing the bad guy, the good guy, and the comedic relief). The production was good as there were no discrepancies in audio, visuals, transitions, etc. The costumes did not look tacky and off-putting. All in all, it was an underrated drama that was solid in execution. Its current rating (at the time of this review) is 7.7 which is slightly lower than it should be when compared to other Cdramas of similar ilk and their inflated ratings, but is truthful in its reflection of the drama.
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