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This review may contain spoilers
It's good, watch it.
But, this time I have some critiques. Spoilers going forward.
The dancing around the hot potato of their mutual feelings is sending me into the stratosphere.
This season was frustrating to watch because there wasn't the same dynamic plot development as before, beginning and end were good, but the middle was muddled. The show concentrated more on the leads interpersonal relationships but everything was drawn out way too much. Twists weren't handled with the same cleverness as before and issues were being fast-tracked to resolutions (everything except their damn relationship) and too many important decisions were handled off screen.
Everyone felt stuck in their development, some side characters showed up but quickly disappeared, and the OG cast looked like hamsters in the same wheel, sometimes they barely had any lines at all (mostly mid season). Established characters completely melted into the background and became extras while the scenario tried to tackle the romance part of the plot. It, but they got completely stuck in the misunderstanding phase of the story. I was so glad at least the Emperor and Concubine Shu finally settled their feelings (not going to complain how it was done), because at least some of the suffering for my poor eyes was taken off screen.
The two big things - Jiang dying and then returning - lacked emotional depth for me. A lot of plot points were predictable, none more than a man living a double life and lying to everyone for years would be killed after finding his forever person. And Hu - even taking into account her personality - not mourning him was also a dead give away. In the end it's a strange split between the actors having a very good chemistry but not really reaching that ''epic love''. It's not necessarily a bad thing, as they have the healthiest relationship I've seen so far in any drama, I just expected more after such a long set up. Her pursuing him was a good story choice.
Once, just once I want to see a lead protagonist who isn't in some way despicable or done something very questionable to his counterpart. This was so close, actually one of the best written ML I've seen so far, with no red flags towards the FL (I'm purposefully ignoring the fact that he's the Emperor's personal assassin) if not for lying ALL the bloody time ''for her own good'' but really to protect his poor little heart. I like the actor playing ML, he's very interesting to watch.
The second ML's villain arc is a sight to behold and he plays the character's descent into madness really well, I appreciate the physical acting with hunching over, that was top notch. Him dying in the end was a choice I don't agree with, seeing as Prince Ning and his daughter, both certified psychopaths, survived.
The dancing around the hot potato of their mutual feelings is sending me into the stratosphere.
This season was frustrating to watch because there wasn't the same dynamic plot development as before, beginning and end were good, but the middle was muddled. The show concentrated more on the leads interpersonal relationships but everything was drawn out way too much. Twists weren't handled with the same cleverness as before and issues were being fast-tracked to resolutions (everything except their damn relationship) and too many important decisions were handled off screen.
Everyone felt stuck in their development, some side characters showed up but quickly disappeared, and the OG cast looked like hamsters in the same wheel, sometimes they barely had any lines at all (mostly mid season). Established characters completely melted into the background and became extras while the scenario tried to tackle the romance part of the plot. It, but they got completely stuck in the misunderstanding phase of the story. I was so glad at least the Emperor and Concubine Shu finally settled their feelings (not going to complain how it was done), because at least some of the suffering for my poor eyes was taken off screen.
The two big things - Jiang dying and then returning - lacked emotional depth for me. A lot of plot points were predictable, none more than a man living a double life and lying to everyone for years would be killed after finding his forever person. And Hu - even taking into account her personality - not mourning him was also a dead give away. In the end it's a strange split between the actors having a very good chemistry but not really reaching that ''epic love''. It's not necessarily a bad thing, as they have the healthiest relationship I've seen so far in any drama, I just expected more after such a long set up. Her pursuing him was a good story choice.
Once, just once I want to see a lead protagonist who isn't in some way despicable or done something very questionable to his counterpart. This was so close, actually one of the best written ML I've seen so far, with no red flags towards the FL (I'm purposefully ignoring the fact that he's the Emperor's personal assassin) if not for lying ALL the bloody time ''for her own good'' but really to protect his poor little heart. I like the actor playing ML, he's very interesting to watch.
The second ML's villain arc is a sight to behold and he plays the character's descent into madness really well, I appreciate the physical acting with hunching over, that was top notch. Him dying in the end was a choice I don't agree with, seeing as Prince Ning and his daughter, both certified psychopaths, survived.
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