Awww thank you. I am glad you were able to finish and enjoy it. You and the hubby should definitely pick up S2…
Yes, Huang Rong was soooo cool. Guo Jing would have died multiple times if not for her! Each time he went solo, we would remark he's in trouble. No street smarts at all!!
I'm beginning to swoon when I watch YXW now. Glad that I've still got 3/4 of S2 to make my eyes happy :P
Awww thank you. I am glad you were able to finish and enjoy it. You and the hubby should definitely pick up S2…
🤣🤣🤣 I guess it was Jin Yong's own fantasy 🤭 If my hubby had zero brain, i would have given him the flick right from the start no matter how cute he was😝
Going back to our Di-tectives - i like both of them cos they're very smart. But of course, LLF is sexier 😍
Awww thank you. I am glad you were able to finish and enjoy it. You and the hubby should definitely pick up S2…
Yes, agree regarding Li Yitong. Her smirk got under my skin.
Guo Jing was really hard to cheer for. The way he was written - dumb and yet very talented in martial arts was a bit hard to swallow. Maybe he had savant syndrome?
The Heavenly Sword and Fox Volant heroes were more fun to watch, especially the young Zhang Wuji :)
Awww thank you. I am glad you were able to finish and enjoy it. You and the hubby should definitely pick up S2…
We've started S2 and finished the first case. E6 with its intense fight scenes was awesome! 2nd case is in progress :)
I need to rewatch 2017 Condor Heroes then. I completed the 2024 version recently and not impressed with the ML actor. But at least I've now watched the Condor Heroes story. Plus we got Zhou Yi Wei as bonus 😝 Not sure if i should attempt the Hu Ge version. It might be too dated to enjoy 🤣🤣
Hey PBG, you've done it again for me! I'm in awe of your analytical and writing prowess <3
Actually, I dropped this show round about the middle of their second case. Lu Lingfeng was still annoying and full of himself then. The case was a bit boring as well. But your high score, and the popularity of S2 made me pick up S1 again. Soon enough hubby and I were bingeing. Hahaha
The character growth of LLF and the chemistry between the 2 leads, plus Fei Ji were very enjoyable to watch. The cases well written and the martial arts were well choreographed. I now have a new appreciation of Yang Xu Wen :P I dropped the 2017 The Legend of of the Condor Heroes, and he was one of the reasons.
Thank you for your illuminating review. Such a good read after I completed the show :)
Love your review of this drama. Love these types of well-written Cdramas that have complex and compelling storylines. No melodramas for the sake of melodrama. The characters have layers, like real people.
The cast is not as strong as The First Half Of My Life nor Nothing But Thirty, but i was still bingeing and cheering our female leads.
Wish they put the FL in better wardrobe. The poor woman had to stay in character in daggy clothes most of the time 🤣🤣
Another negative for me was the lack of chemistry between FL and ML. Stronger actors would have been able to convey more emotion even though there weren't many intimate scenes. Nevertheless it wasn't the point of the story.
Glad you found it helpful and thank you for your always kind comments.
You're right. I have forgotten so many details when I jumped into S2.
For Joy of Life, I rewatched the whole S1 before starting on S2 and it was such a fun ride.
Having said that, I have much respect for the author to have created such layered characters and a story that is very different from the usual offerings.
One pet peeve...the drama would have been even more immersive if they had cast a more accomplished actor for the role of Tushan Jing.
Glad you found it helpful and thank you for your always kind comments.
Still feeling sad how Xiangliu loved Xiaoyao selflessly, and took his secrets to the grave :(
Tan Jianci and Zhang Wanyi were phenomenal indeed. But I didn't feel that Yang Zi performed as well as in S1. Maybe the script didn't offer as much range to play with.
Good analysis. I would add the acting was pretty poor aside from the 2 main leads. To force us to watch the second male lead endlessly was a painful experience. The fella does not have enough acting chops to carry the role.
The problem with NIF is after that, its really hard to watch anything. I think I may have attempted JOL right…
I just finished watching this, after completing JOL2. Loved it! Loved your review even more, after completing the show ❤️
The chemistry between the Changlin father and brothers was so warm and believable. One of my favourite bits of NIF2. Can't say the same about the relationship between Pingjing and Lin Xi though 🤣🤣
I thought Pu Yangying was evil and reminds me of a snake, but i could still watch him relishing his own evilness. I couldn't stand the antagonist in the second arc. Somehow the actor has an off-putting vibe. I covered his face in some of his scenes. Haha.
Tyvm 😍.I like the Saintess she is very cool but I don't think she fits FX. Her first loyalty is to an enemy…
Hahaha true that. All the naration and pearls of wisdom from the old uncle went in 1 ear and came out the other. My little brain couldn't process what they were doing :P
Tyvm 😍.I like the Saintess she is very cool but I don't think she fits FX. Her first loyalty is to an enemy…
Agree on those points. But there are more sparks between FX and Saintess. Probably cos the actress is stronger, or perhaps the way her character was written. They click cos both of them are irreverent, witty and outliers in terms of talent. Of course I wish FX a happily-ever-after relationship with his chicken drumstick kuniang <3
Love the performances of the other main characters too, especially the Emperor, father, Chen Ping Ping and most definitely, Wang Qi Nian.
It was such an enjoyable watch. Glad I rewatched S1 prior to starting S2. Otherwise I would have missed the kooky use of totally non-mainstream music in some scenes. S1 used some kind of south american tune whilst S1 has yodelling. Only this drama could pull this off :P
1 
The Provider was touching. I wonder if the ritual of sending 60yo to death fact or fiction? That's so sad.
The 2 child actors are so gorgeous and talented. Future stars in the making.
I'm beginning to swoon when I watch YXW now. Glad that I've still got 3/4 of S2 to make my eyes happy :P
SWM has the moustache to play Poirot. Hehe
Going back to our Di-tectives - i like both of them cos they're very smart. But of course, LLF is sexier 😍
Guo Jing was really hard to cheer for. The way he was written - dumb and yet very talented in martial arts was a bit hard to swallow. Maybe he had savant syndrome?
The Heavenly Sword and Fox Volant heroes were more fun to watch, especially the young Zhang Wuji :)
I need to rewatch 2017 Condor Heroes then. I completed the 2024 version recently and not impressed with the ML actor. But at least I've now watched the Condor Heroes story. Plus we got Zhou Yi Wei as bonus 😝 Not sure if i should attempt the Hu Ge version. It might be too dated to enjoy 🤣🤣
Actually, I dropped this show round about the middle of their second case. Lu Lingfeng was still annoying and full of himself then. The case was a bit boring as well. But your high score, and the popularity of S2 made me pick up S1 again. Soon enough hubby and I were bingeing. Hahaha
The character growth of LLF and the chemistry between the 2 leads, plus Fei Ji were very enjoyable to watch. The cases well written and the martial arts were well choreographed. I now have a new appreciation of Yang Xu Wen :P I dropped the 2017 The Legend of of the Condor Heroes, and he was one of the reasons.
Thank you for your illuminating review. Such a good read after I completed the show :)
The cast is not as strong as The First Half Of My Life nor Nothing But Thirty, but i was still bingeing and cheering our female leads.
Wish they put the FL in better wardrobe. The poor woman had to stay in character in daggy clothes most of the time 🤣🤣
Another negative for me was the lack of chemistry between FL and ML. Stronger actors would have been able to convey more emotion even though there weren't many intimate scenes. Nevertheless it wasn't the point of the story.
Overall, a good drama!
For Joy of Life, I rewatched the whole S1 before starting on S2 and it was such a fun ride.
Having said that, I have much respect for the author to have created such layered characters and a story that is very different from the usual offerings.
One pet peeve...the drama would have been even more immersive if they had cast a more accomplished actor for the role of Tushan Jing.
Tan Jianci and Zhang Wanyi were phenomenal indeed. But I didn't feel that Yang Zi performed as well as in S1. Maybe the script didn't offer as much range to play with.
"he chose to be invincible while she chose to be invisib" sums it up neatly.
Love the background info from the Shānhǎijīng. You're very generous in sharing your knowledge with all of us. Thank you PBG ♥️
Excellent review. Love your way with words, PBG ♥️ "... unjustified pin-cushioning of good characters." 😂
Agree with you that the leads' chemistry was so crackly in the first half of the show, and then fizzled in the last 10 episodes.
The chemistry between the Changlin father and brothers was so warm and believable. One of my favourite bits of NIF2. Can't say the same about the relationship between Pingjing and Lin Xi though 🤣🤣
I thought Pu Yangying was evil and reminds me of a snake, but i could still watch him relishing his own evilness. I couldn't stand the antagonist in the second arc. Somehow the actor has an off-putting vibe. I covered his face in some of his scenes. Haha.
Love the performances of the other main characters too, especially the Emperor, father, Chen Ping Ping and most definitely, Wang Qi Nian.
It was such an enjoyable watch. Glad I rewatched S1 prior to starting S2. Otherwise I would have missed the kooky use of totally non-mainstream music in some scenes. S1 used some kind of south american tune whilst S1 has yodelling. Only this drama could pull this off :P
Totally enjoyed S2, aside from the laugh-out-loud reason FX escaped the S1 cliffhanger death 🤣
Don't you think FX has more chemistry with the Saintess? She is such a cool character.
Looking forwards to S3!