Beautiful Yet Struggling to Connect with...
This was one of the c-dramas I was really looking forward to! As a fan of xianxia and with it being the final part of one of my fave trilogies, my excitement was through the roof. On top of that, knowing the cast from previous works I enjoyed gave me even more reassurance. Unfortunately, some aspects didn’t unfold as I’d hoped. While it’s not a bad drama by any means, it just didn’t captivate or engage me in the way I was expecting.
The early episodes were a bit of a struggle to get through. It was hard to get into the story, and there were issues with the use of the OST and editing that made it harder to connect with the plot right off the bat. It felt like some of the transitions were off, which left me feeling disconnected from the story initially.
However, once the plot started to unfold and the sub-plots began to gather steam, I found myself more engaged. The mystery and the gathering of the contemplations of the stone that tied the different storylines together started to add a layer of intrigue that made the drama more interesting as it progressed.
While I have no issues with the lead actors, who I’ve admired in previous works, I didn’t feel the romance here. It didn’t have the emotional weight I was hoping for. Some of their scenes, especially the more dramatic ones, felt a bit exaggerated or overly stoic, but this could very well be due to the writing of their characters. As I mentioned, I really enjoyed their acting in other projects, so it’s hard to fully blame the performers here.
That said, the drama did manage to evoke some genuine emotions in the latter half, and this was mostly thanks to the excellent performances from the whole cast crew. Some of the supporting cast truly elevated the emotional stakes and brought some much-needed depth to the story overall with their scenes.
As the drama neared its conclusion, the plot started to feel a bit predictable. We got the typical rushed "5 minutes of happiness" before the finale, which didn’t leave much room for emotional satisfaction either. I’m sure this formula works for some viewers, but for me, it felt a bit too unsatisfying.
Now on a more technical note, I loved the OST songs—so beautiful and fitting for the atmosphere of the drama. The CGI, filming sets, and outfits were also visually stunning, though I do feel that the elaborate and intricate costumes may have hindered some emotional immersion in the sadder scenes. Seeing characters dressed in such elaborate outfits, perfectly styled with full makeup on, while going through intense emotional moments felt a bit detached for me. As an audience member, I found it hard to truly connect with the sadness when everything was so immaculate and perfect on the surface.
In conclusion, Moonlight Mystique has its merits, especially in its latter half, but overall, it didn’t leave as strong an impression as I’d hoped. The performances from the supporting cast were a highlight, but the pacing, editing and certain stylistic choices held it back from being a truly memorable experience for me.
The early episodes were a bit of a struggle to get through. It was hard to get into the story, and there were issues with the use of the OST and editing that made it harder to connect with the plot right off the bat. It felt like some of the transitions were off, which left me feeling disconnected from the story initially.
However, once the plot started to unfold and the sub-plots began to gather steam, I found myself more engaged. The mystery and the gathering of the contemplations of the stone that tied the different storylines together started to add a layer of intrigue that made the drama more interesting as it progressed.
While I have no issues with the lead actors, who I’ve admired in previous works, I didn’t feel the romance here. It didn’t have the emotional weight I was hoping for. Some of their scenes, especially the more dramatic ones, felt a bit exaggerated or overly stoic, but this could very well be due to the writing of their characters. As I mentioned, I really enjoyed their acting in other projects, so it’s hard to fully blame the performers here.
That said, the drama did manage to evoke some genuine emotions in the latter half, and this was mostly thanks to the excellent performances from the whole cast crew. Some of the supporting cast truly elevated the emotional stakes and brought some much-needed depth to the story overall with their scenes.
As the drama neared its conclusion, the plot started to feel a bit predictable. We got the typical rushed "5 minutes of happiness" before the finale, which didn’t leave much room for emotional satisfaction either. I’m sure this formula works for some viewers, but for me, it felt a bit too unsatisfying.
Now on a more technical note, I loved the OST songs—so beautiful and fitting for the atmosphere of the drama. The CGI, filming sets, and outfits were also visually stunning, though I do feel that the elaborate and intricate costumes may have hindered some emotional immersion in the sadder scenes. Seeing characters dressed in such elaborate outfits, perfectly styled with full makeup on, while going through intense emotional moments felt a bit detached for me. As an audience member, I found it hard to truly connect with the sadness when everything was so immaculate and perfect on the surface.
In conclusion, Moonlight Mystique has its merits, especially in its latter half, but overall, it didn’t leave as strong an impression as I’d hoped. The performances from the supporting cast were a highlight, but the pacing, editing and certain stylistic choices held it back from being a truly memorable experience for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
