Morally Simplistic
I watch a drama for one of three reasons: to learn something, feel something, or be entertained. So far this drama is weak in all three.
In the first 14 episodes, people have been slaughtered by the hundreds–all as various factions struggle to acquire power. The repetitive and boring fight scenes take up a huge percentage of each episode. For me, at least, the different combatants are hard to differentiate, let alone care about.
Our hero, Ning Que, is a fighter. He has a personal score to settle. Other than that, he just wants to survive in this treacherous world. He’s skilled in swordsmanship, talented in calligraphy and martial arts, and attractive to the ladies. The bad guys, dressed in black, are mostly a bunch of uglies who aim to install the child of Hades as ruler of the world–so we know which side to root for. As I said–pretty simple-minded.
The violence is sanitized, so the audience doesn’t have to feel upset when someone is murdered. We’re anesthetized to the torture and murder taking place in the name of glory and “courage.”
Ning Que seems really fond of his engaging little maid, Sang Sang. Of course she has to obey his every whim, but she seems happy to do it. While ignorant and self-centered, NQ wants to gain knowledge through cultivation–mostly to gain more skill so he can overcome his enemies. That seems to be his main goal.
Ning Que, is mostly an unknown at this point. If there’s more to his character, we haven’t seen it yet.
Have to admit I’m a sucker for mystical teachings and magic special effects, and those abound in EVER NIGHT.
I also love seeing the flora and fauna of the Chinese landscape.
Two questions:
1. Why is Sang-Sang always obsessing about her “dark skin” when she appears lighter-skinned than Ning Que?
2. Hey, writers! Why all this hatred toward crows? Crows are wonderful, intelligent birds. And while our ancestors feared them, please don’t encourage cruelty by showing people throwing rocks at them.
Later: As there’s very little character development in this series, I decided to watch a more substantial drama. BUT... if you decide to do the same, at least watch episode 60 before you go. This episode shows a grand battle between two major antagonists (I won’t say who--no spoiler here). The CGI depiction of this fight is the best, and most original, I’ve ever seen.
In the first 14 episodes, people have been slaughtered by the hundreds–all as various factions struggle to acquire power. The repetitive and boring fight scenes take up a huge percentage of each episode. For me, at least, the different combatants are hard to differentiate, let alone care about.
Our hero, Ning Que, is a fighter. He has a personal score to settle. Other than that, he just wants to survive in this treacherous world. He’s skilled in swordsmanship, talented in calligraphy and martial arts, and attractive to the ladies. The bad guys, dressed in black, are mostly a bunch of uglies who aim to install the child of Hades as ruler of the world–so we know which side to root for. As I said–pretty simple-minded.
The violence is sanitized, so the audience doesn’t have to feel upset when someone is murdered. We’re anesthetized to the torture and murder taking place in the name of glory and “courage.”
Ning Que seems really fond of his engaging little maid, Sang Sang. Of course she has to obey his every whim, but she seems happy to do it. While ignorant and self-centered, NQ wants to gain knowledge through cultivation–mostly to gain more skill so he can overcome his enemies. That seems to be his main goal.
Ning Que, is mostly an unknown at this point. If there’s more to his character, we haven’t seen it yet.
Have to admit I’m a sucker for mystical teachings and magic special effects, and those abound in EVER NIGHT.
I also love seeing the flora and fauna of the Chinese landscape.
Two questions:
1. Why is Sang-Sang always obsessing about her “dark skin” when she appears lighter-skinned than Ning Que?
2. Hey, writers! Why all this hatred toward crows? Crows are wonderful, intelligent birds. And while our ancestors feared them, please don’t encourage cruelty by showing people throwing rocks at them.
Later: As there’s very little character development in this series, I decided to watch a more substantial drama. BUT... if you decide to do the same, at least watch episode 60 before you go. This episode shows a grand battle between two major antagonists (I won’t say who--no spoiler here). The CGI depiction of this fight is the best, and most original, I’ve ever seen.
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