The last third ruined it
OVERALL
My headline says it all. Great until roughly ep 18-19, terrible afterwards. Watch it if 1) you're curious to see just how good it was until then and how bad it gets later, 2) you really have nothing else to watch. If none of the above, skip.
THE STORY
The beginning of this drama reminded me a lot of Long Ballad. Not the plot (it's quite different), but the concept; this is essentially a Romeo and Juliet story between two people from opposing nations. I quite liked Long Ballad, so this drama was right up my alley. And it stayed right up my alley for 20 eps because:
- Female lead was exactly as I love them, super smart, super mature, super poised
- Male lead falls quick for female lead, which I enjoy
- Male lead isn't treating her like crap all the time
- They have good banter and exchanges
- They outwit their enemies and each other
- The (female) costumes!
But then the series hits its last third and all hell breaks loose. It's as if they switched writer - or the writer procrastinated and wrote the last ten eps in two hours. Things become repetitive, characters stop making sense, it drags, it drags, it drags, and the drama keeps adding "impossible" challenges to overcome without ever addressing the previous ones. Finally, the last two eps come, and suddenly, magically, all the impossible challenges are no longer impossible, the dragging stops because it has to, and we get a rushed ending that feels totally dissatisfying because 100% forced.
20 eps are more than 10, but the last 10 manage to completely ruin the first 20. I don't think I can recommend this drama to anybody.
THE ACTING
I liked it. I've been tough with Angelababy in the past, but I think her acting was fine here. There was some chemistry with male lead too. Not bad at all! Too bad the writing is so disappointing.
THE MUSIC
No comment.
REWATCH VALUE
Not high.
My headline says it all. Great until roughly ep 18-19, terrible afterwards. Watch it if 1) you're curious to see just how good it was until then and how bad it gets later, 2) you really have nothing else to watch. If none of the above, skip.
THE STORY
The beginning of this drama reminded me a lot of Long Ballad. Not the plot (it's quite different), but the concept; this is essentially a Romeo and Juliet story between two people from opposing nations. I quite liked Long Ballad, so this drama was right up my alley. And it stayed right up my alley for 20 eps because:
- Female lead was exactly as I love them, super smart, super mature, super poised
- Male lead falls quick for female lead, which I enjoy
- Male lead isn't treating her like crap all the time
- They have good banter and exchanges
- They outwit their enemies and each other
- The (female) costumes!
But then the series hits its last third and all hell breaks loose. It's as if they switched writer - or the writer procrastinated and wrote the last ten eps in two hours. Things become repetitive, characters stop making sense, it drags, it drags, it drags, and the drama keeps adding "impossible" challenges to overcome without ever addressing the previous ones. Finally, the last two eps come, and suddenly, magically, all the impossible challenges are no longer impossible, the dragging stops because it has to, and we get a rushed ending that feels totally dissatisfying because 100% forced.
20 eps are more than 10, but the last 10 manage to completely ruin the first 20. I don't think I can recommend this drama to anybody.
THE ACTING
I liked it. I've been tough with Angelababy in the past, but I think her acting was fine here. There was some chemistry with male lead too. Not bad at all! Too bad the writing is so disappointing.
THE MUSIC
No comment.
REWATCH VALUE
Not high.
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