Great Production, Visuals and Memorable Perormances
Since seeing the promotional material for Whispers of Fate, I've been anticipating this Wuxia-Xianxia series with the male lead as Luo Yun Xi. But after its release, and watching all 40 episodes, I'm struggling to articulate how I really feel about the characters and the story.Okay, first let's talk about the positives:
Production: Great. The sets, the handmade costumes for each character and the makeup are of the highest quality. OSTs and original songs that most of the cast sing fit their characters’ stories are amazing! (Actually, the same studio that produced the international hit
Till the End of the Moon is the same one producing Whispers of Fate. So, I knew it would be great quality in terms of overall production.)
Action scenes and choreography: Good, especially in small-scale and one-on-one duels. The movements are fast and there is not much slow motion (which is a plus, because it disrupts the flow of the scene and it's just annoying!)
VFX and CGI: Decent but not great. For different sets and places within this fantasy world, you can tell they mostly used green screens. But the lighting and the details in each set are very good. On the other hand, when it comes to animating giant moving objects and fantasy creatures, it ranges from average to bad.
And now onto the story and its characters…and this is where it gets a bit complicated. Whispers of Fate is actually an adaptation of a Chinese series of novels featuring a martial artist called Tang Lici and his companions Chi Yun and, later, Shen Long Huan as they traverse Jiangu (the martial arts world) to try to find the culprits behind the deadly and addictive “Nine Hearted Demon Pills,” the mysterious and dangerous organisation of Fengliu Parlour.
This is more or less the overall plot of the novel series. However, the original novel, as of now, is still unfinished. So naturally, for purposes of adaptation, the writers changed parts of the story and created a different ending.
I don't know, but maybe this is why I have mixed feelings about WOF’s story and characters. To me, it felt more like a character-driven story than a plot-driven one. Sure, the plot is very important, and you'll see interesting twists and turns along the way. The world of Jianghu, with its many different characters, is also important. But the main focus in this story always remains on Tang Lici and his personal journey and growth. His origin is quite different in the drama from the one in the novel. But in terms of personality, he shares many aspects of his novel counterpart: Seemingly cold, aloof and even arrogant; suspicious and always plotting ahead and trying to remain one step above others. Yet as we see more, his exterior hides a sensitive, fragile and tormented spirit, one whose nature and motives are mostly misunderstood by others. In a way, Tang Lici is very much like a child who mentally hasn't fully matured into adulthood; he has unhealthy ways of dealing with grief, abandonment and cannot accept loss.
So, watching the drama, I saw it as his personal story and journey of growth, as he faces a myriad of challenges and becomes a better version of himself. However, the ending left me feeling confused and a bit unsatisfied. I won't go into details (because it'll spoil the whole plot). But in terms of character development, I thought it made the whole journey of Tang Lici and his personal struggles moot. It's just my personal opinion, but I think it is this way because the novel is unfinished and the writers had to write the ending themselves. So, of course, some major incongruities in the overall themes of the story will be unavoidable.
But setting my reservation for the story aside, the casting is very good. Luo Yun Xi, as always, dedicates himself to the roles he plays and excels at them! For instance, through his macro facial expressions, tone of voice, eyes and posture, he conveys the character’s inner state very well. The others are fine too. But as I said, the main focus is always Tang Lici. Therefore, when it comes to other characters in this story, I found very few to be interesting.
As for the romance storyline … let's just say you will be disappointed. To be honest, before watching the drama, I knew romance wasn't a main driver of the story and was totally fine with it. But after watching the whole thing, I just wish they had scrapped the whole subplot or whatever it was, because it was very lacklustre to me (and a bit forced?) Yes, I know in the drama, it is part of Tang Lici’s personal journey. But I don't know if it's just me, but I felt no or very little chemistry between our protagonist and his supposed “love interest”, and the story doesn't really take the time to expand on it. So, to me, this subplot was the weakest and the least interesting aspect of the drama. It's nothing against the actors; you can tell they were really trying, but ultimately it comes down to the script and the narrative choices within it. To be fair, the romance isn't spectacular in the novel either, so it's understandable.
With that said, is Whispers of Fate worth watching? Yes, and I think it might improve my opinion and rating with a rewatch. In terms of casting, performance and the overall production quality, it is top-notch, but it is not flawless either.
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Great But Flawed Historical Drama
I'm not usually into C-Dramas. I mean I watched a couple of older Chinese movies before, but never 45 minutes 70 long episodes drama. So it was kind of a first or for me. But let's just say that after watching why the Rise of Phoenixes’ teaser and learning that the actor Chen Kun plays the main role I was all in.And for the most part, this 70 episode historical fiction drama (if you're going to watch the uncut version) was very much worth it.
Rise of Phoenixes is set in the fictional kingdom of Tiansheng ruled by ruthless and paranoid emperor. Chen Kun plays the part of Ning Yi, the sixth prince of Tiansheng, who at first appears to be a clueless, carefree and good for nothing prince. But he is actually a cunning and resourceful prince who comes back to the imperial Palace after an eight-year exile to take revenge on those who've wronged him.
I've got to say, the thought of watching a 70 episode drama was pretty daunting at first. But once the story hooks you in, you just want to know what happens next. Besides that, the performance of the actors and actresses are top notch and captivating, especially those of the emperor and Ning Yi.
Rise of Phoenixes is a story of power, love and betrayal in the constant web of political intrigue and the royal princess always scheming and vying for power of the imperial throne. And in the background, the father-son relationship between Ning Yi and the emperor has been the most interesting thing to me. I think Rise of Phoenixes well captures the realities of having such an enormous power and responsibility as an emperor and the toll it takes on him as a person. The emperor is an old ruler who is extremely paranoid and is not above involving his sons in political power plays or testing their competence or loyalty. And this dynamic makes it impossible for him to have a normal and healthy relationship with his family and sons.
However, this doesn't mean that the emperor is without feeling or humanity. Several scenes show his remorse, compassion and even affection towards his sons, even though it is hidden behind the burden of imperial power and responsibility.
Ning Yi is also very well written. You may think at the beginning that he's a noble prince who only pursues justice and cares about the safety of his loved ones and the empire. But that is not all he is. Ning Yi is ambitious, practical and is not afraid to play political games. But one thing that sets him apart from the other princes is that he is more self aware of his position and how his actions and decisions might affect others.
Overall, in terms of story, Rise of Phoenixes is a solid 8 out of 10 for me. Why 8? Because as intriguing as a story and its characters were, the last episodes story lines, particularly for one major character, didn't handle it and in my opinion, the conclusion to the story was rushed and very unsatisfying.
However, in terms of cinematography, using real sets and the gorgeous, very real looking costumes, it was definitely 9 or 10 out of 10.
So yes, I definitely recommend Rise of Phoenixes, if you're into historical fiction C dramas.
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Not My Usual Genre, But Bai Lu Made Arsenal Military Academy Worth the Watch
Let me start this review by saying that dramas set in military settings are not usually my cup of tea, especially the ones set in the 1900s to 1940s. So why did I watch Arsenal Military Academy?For Bai Lu, of course! Ever since I washed her in Till The End of The Moon, I wanted to see more of her works. So I did some research and I found that AMA was one of her more notable works.
And she did not disappoint! By now I’ve watched four of her dramas and regardless of their quality, I can say for sure that she is a versatile actress and she puts in the work required for her roles.
In AMA she plays Xie Xiang, a woman who dresses up as a boy to enter the Arsenal Military Academy to fulfill the dream of her deceased older brother. The drama is set in 1910s and during world war I. Japan is an invading force and has significant military and commercial power in China and the Chinese government is not strong enough to repel them in this period (I don't have much historical information on this period in China, so I don't know if there is any truth to it). So in this setting Xie Xiang pretends to be a boy in the academy and there, he meets several students who later become her close friends and allies, including Gu Yanzhen (the first male lead and romantic interest) and Shen Junshan (2nd lead and rival to Gu Yanzhen).
This is the overall premise. Now, let's get to the actual review. I'll start with the positives:
Great production quality: If I can say the strongest aspect of this drama, it would be sets, costumes, makeup and the overall production. And honestly, I shouldn't be surprised. In every C-drama I watched, production quality has always been their strongest point and in AMA it is no different .The sets, the costumes, hairstyles of different characters in different settings along with the grayish and muted color palette of the picture truly transports you to the depressive and grim atmosphere of that era. So, 10/10 for overall production and sets.
Songs and OSTs: AMA doesn't have many OSTs or original songs. There are perhaps two songs, but they're used effectively during parts of the story and manage to convey the feelings well.
Casting: Very good; All the main and secondary cast played their parts very well, which is another strong aspect of C-dramas. Even if the script is subpar, you can count on the performance to carry the drama;
Editing: Even though it's 48 episodes long, I didn't feel that it dragged or was boring.
Okay now let's go to the negatives, which unfortunately are mostly about the script and some narrative choices.
The plot and premise of AMA is pretty straightforward and isn't complex. Sure, there are scheming characters and antagonists within the story who try to enact their evil plans, but there's really no complicated storylines that require you to remember something of past episodes. AMA mostly focuses on Xie Xiang and her friends in the academy and follows their story from their registration to their graduation. So, all in all, it was a fun and easy watch except for a few things:.
There were too many convenient encounters between characters that logically shouldn't have been at the right time and place and it seems that the writers just wanted events A, B, C, … to happen regardless of their logic.
Some characters are killed more because of the melodrama rather than the logical and natural plot progression.
There's no strong villain in AMA; actually there is one that could be called “the main villain” of the drama, but when it comes down to making effective decisions, she’s just incompetent and is not a strong villain.
Enemies are dumb and most of the time there is plot armor for our heroes; the enemies bullets can't hit them 97% of the time.
And these are my major gripes with AMA. But other than these, there are other things that make AMA a one-time watch for me, but they are purely a matter of taste.
One of them is that I don't like period dramas set in 1900’s to 1940s. I don't know if it's because of world war I, the tight and short hairstyles and the grey tone the films set in this era or just the oppressive and the bleak overall feel it gives; I just don't like it.
But it doesn't mean that it's not well made and acted. So if you like to see Bai Lu play in a different role and pretending to be a boy soldier, definitely give AMA a try. But for me, there's no rewatch for this one.
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In Novoland: Pearl Eclipse, he plays Jinaming Fang, a higher ranking member of Emperor Xu’s court and his most trusted ally and friend. He is the head of a secret task force within the empire and is tasked with protecting the emperor and eliminating all threats to the empire.
Enter Haish, a girl whose village was terrorized by corrupt officials who leveled heavy and unfair pearl taxes on the village. She is recruited by gianming as a young girl and she chooses to dress as a boy and enters Fang’s secret force.
However, as Haishi grows into a young woman, she begins to have feelings for her master/teacher, Jianming. However, Jianming, because of who he is and what he does, cannot return those feelings as readily or as openly as Haishi wants, no matter how much he cares for her.
After watching and reviewing Novoland, I couldn't decide if it was a romance or political intrigue fantasy story. So I guess it was all of them? Also, aside from Jianming and Haishi, there are two more love stories and couples, and honestly, at times, I preferred them to the Haishi and Jianming romance, because of how frustrating it was to watch the back and forth between them.
But I think one of the strongest aspects of this series is its character development. Almost all of the lead characters mature and change by the end of the story and it is one of the more satisfying aspects of the show, especially with regards to Haishi’s character arc.
I also love the set, the beautiful costumes and cinematography. Unfortunately, the CGI and most of the fight scenes were nothing to boast about. But overall, they didn't derail my enjoyment of the show.
However, if I have one major criticism of Novoland, it's the editing. Novoland has 48 episodes to tell its story. But I think it could have been edited more tightly. In this way, the pacing would have become much faster and the story dragging on in some places or some parts that felt unnecessary could have been devoted to fleshing out the important characters, world building and history of Novoland and its effects on the present.
So, that being said, I think this series is good to watch, but not great and in terms of editing and some other decisions related to the characters, it could have been better. But if you're a fan of a fantasy setting with political intrigue and very slow burn romance, Novoland: Pearl Eclipse might just be up your alley.
Rating: 7/5 out of 10
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Light Hearted Modern Drama With Great Cast And Chemistry Between The Leads
After watching the brutal emotional roller coaster that was Till The End of The Moon, I found myself in desperate need of a lighthearted make- you-feel-good drama to help me soothe its’ anguish.And the good thing was, the same handsome stars with sweet and loving chemistry that were the leads of the Till The End of The Moon, are also the main couple that leads Love Is Sweet and are the charming and cute duo played by Lou Yun Xi as Yuan Shuai and Jiang Jun.
Since my foray into C dramas, I haven't watched one set in modern times, and specially one which atmosphere and overall vibe is for the most part, boring office daily routines, stock market competition and little dramas of its characters’ daily lives!
But as I said, the main motivation for me was the main lead played by The talented and irresistible Luo Yun Xi and Bai Lu and they did not disappoint! To be honest, the plot of Love Is Sweet is neither original or anything new. It stars Jiang June, a young woman educated in economics and psychology, who has decided to join a top investment banking firm in Shanghai called MH. There he meets his childhood friend and bully at school, Yuan Shuai, who is now her boss (and who has been secretly in love with her for years) after 10 years. But working in the investment banking industry is tough and Jun has to navigate intricate office politics, rivalries and the overall cut throat and competitive culture of the industry, if she wants to succeed in her career. Oh and one more thing; she's allergic to tears and crying (if you can believe that!) So, no pressure!
Honestly, if it wasn't for the romance aspect of it, it would be pretty boring and frankly not my cup of tea. Series set in offices dealing with stock market and office politics are not my thing.
But again, what was really the main draw from me was Lou Yun Xi and Bai Lu playing the main lead. After watching Till The End of The Moon, I had no doubt in my mind that Luo Yun Xi is not just a pretty face; the man can act and do it very well, in a way that makes you want to watch him forever on c-dramas! So, take his insanely good looks, lithe ballet dancer grace and phenomenal charisma on the screen as Yuan Shuai, and then combine it with the effortless cute and lovely Bai Lu who plays the idealistic and determined, yet vulnerable Jiang Jun with their natural and irresistible chemistry on screen, and you've pretty much convinced me to watch a drama that I wouldn't otherwise watch.
Although its plot is basic and at many points are predictable, I didn't mind. I went into it roughly knowing what to expect. To put it simply, it's a light romantic comedy with an upbeat tone and a happy ending (rare for Cdramas, I know!) that ultimately makes you feel good.
And I love it! it was exactly what I needed after the heartbreak and tears that Till The End of the Moon put me through. And why not? We all need to feel good once in a while, even if it is done by watching a very light romance fiction, set in investing corporations starting hot and perfect to-be-boyfriends!
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Cold Devil, Soft Fairy, and Surprisingly Sincere Storytelling
Want a forbidden romance between the dainty and pretty Fairy and a cold-hearted and a handsome Devil? No problem! a fan of xianxia with its own fantasy world and lore? Say no more, because Love Between Fairy and Devil has got it all covered!To be frank, forbidden romance is something that is overdone so much by now, that I shouldn't have been tempted to try watching it for the nth time.
But watching countless TV shows, movies, and C-dramas has taught me this: it doesn't matter how overdone a trope or a story is; if done correctly; it can still draw the audience and be a gem on its own!
And so is the case with LBFAD. The cute and pretty Orchid is accidentally put in the path of the Moon Supreme (our Devil) and without meaning to, sets him free from his eternal imprisonment. It's a pretty typical setup in C-dramas for making two characters who wouldn't usually and logically meet, stick and go on their journey together. But I don't have any complaints; it was the journey afterwards and their interesting and hilarious interactions between these two leads that made the drama an absolute blast to watch!
The other characters were also well written and the story is well constructed; the stakes are real and interactions between characters feel real and authentic. I never felt any emotion, sadness or happiness, portrayed on the screen fake or any emotional scene was there because of melodrama. And this really impressed me, because not once I was taken out of the story and felt deeply for its characters. It is remarkable, because in a lot of C-dramas (even some of the ones I really like), there's this issue of too much dramatization or a scene being too melodramatic. So with LBFAD it was noticeable and I really appreciated it.
But let's not forget about the cast! Especially our two leads Esther Yu and Dylan Wang, who play Orchid and Dongfang Qingcang, respectively. This is my first time watching them, and based on it alone, they both have the power to draw the audience. Of course, the script is very well written and possibly, the largest contributing factor to its success. But these two basically carry the show, and why not? Having watched my share of C-dramas, I can say without any doubt that Esther Yu has #! spot on being the cutest Chinese actor who can melt the heart of any mortal or immortal in the three realms!
Dylan Wang also perfectly portrays the ruthless moon supreme with a cold and unfeeling demeanor, feared by everyone. And it's this contrast and opposite personalities that make their interactions so interesting to watch. Secondary characters and cast members like Shangque and Jieli, are well cast too. But perhaps if I had one criticism about casting, it is that the actor and actress playing the current and former god of war don't really… look the part? Don't get me wrong, Zhang Linghe is a good choice for portraying the dashing, yet honor- bound immortal (who secretly loves Orchid), but he looks too soft to play god of war. The same goes for the actress that plays the former god of war too. But other than this, all of the cast members perform their roles brilliantly.
The customs, the sets and the overall look of the three realms were spot on and each felt distinguished. For example, you could tell by clothing, set design and hairstyles that who belonged to the Fairy realm, the Moon Tribe and the world of humans.
The songs for this one are not so many, but they're beautiful and convey the overall feel of the drama and the characters.
So, all in all, Love Between Fairy and Devil was a very memorable and satisfying experience for me. It's not flawless and the pacing slows down a bit at some points, but never stops and you always want to know what happens next.
In terms of xianxia genre, it doesn't beat Till The End of The Moon for me, but it comes second place or very close to it. It's not the hard-wrenching tragedy that is Till The End of The Moon. But it is equal parts joy and sorrow, wonder and grief and it is very sincere and authentic in its storytelling and in my eyes, a rare gem.
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Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad C- drama! In terms of set designs and customs it is very good and the actors for the most part, are fine too. However, I think the weakest aspects of this series is its script, pacing, characters and the overall storytelling.
From start to finish, I couldn't tell what was the focus of the story. Was it Li Chen Lan’s struggle against the evil in his heart? Was it that the immortal sects are mostly a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites who claim to be upholders of Justice and good, all the while their actions portrayed the opposite and actually harmed others? Or was the story about Lu Xiao Zhao Yao’s (a.k.a the Demoness) character growth from an arrogant sect leader with questionable morals to a softer and more self-reflective version of herself? I don't know and I think that is the biggest issue.
But aside from a lack of focus in the story, the pacing is uneven. Until almost halfway into the series (when Zhao Yao reveals herself) the pacing is good and I was watching every episode to see what happens next. However, after that point, it drags and it's not until the last 10 episodes that it picks up the pace again.
To be honest, it is a fairly common issue in a lot of C-dramas. But I argue that if the plot and the editing were tighter, I wouldn't feel its uneven pacing, because recently, I have watched another C drama that was 70 episodes long and I didn't mind at all the number of the episodes, because I was so engrossed in its story and characters.
But other than the pacing and the lousy editing, I couldn't get into most of the characters. Sure, I liked the Demoness, her quirky and fierce attitude, coupled with her flexible morality. But I struggled to care about most other characters. The male lead Li Chen Lan (played by Xu Kai) is the Demoness’s love interest and the chemistry is fine…I guess. But…I'm sorry, because after watching Love Is Sweet and Until The End of The Moon, it pales in comparison with Bai Lu and Luo Yu Xi’s effortless and natural chemistry; but it's just my take.
Of course, there were secondary male and female characters. But in the end, nothing about them made them memorable. And again, it ties back to the issues in the script and storytelling. If more care and effort were put into crafting a tighter story and fleshing out the characters properly, I think it would have been a great show. Instead, a lot of scenes and subplots were unnecessary and took too much screen time that could have been used better.
So all in all, the Legends wasn't a bad drama, but it wasn't great either. But if you like Bail Lu as the main FL you can give it a try!
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