A little frustrating sometimes, but mostly nothing special
For about 10 episodes, I thought this was a fluffy xianxia. In these beginning episodes, this show features an imaginative, CGI-filled world; cutsey sound effects; and a FL pretending to be a ditz as she subdues villains with the ML. It’s all good fun.
I wish it stayed a fluffy xianxia, because I wasn’t really connecting with the characters or the plot, but I’m always down for a feel-good, low-stress watch. Unfortunately it moves on- no longer lighthearted, instead people seem to be constantly upset and/or in excruciating pain- before finally turning into another save-the-world story. It’s all alright, but for me, it fell short of being captivating.
Ming Yi, the FL, seems like a character I should like. I always love a strong female lead, and she qualifies. Especially in such a chauvinistic universe, she’s built up some impressive ability through hard work.
But somehow I just couldn’t really connect with her. It’s a little better at the beginning when we get some of her interior monologue, but that sort of goes away, and in general she’s not quite as relatable or down-to-earth as I like. She’s not bad- as a lead, she'll never be too unlikable- but I found her rather thoughtless sometimes.
I liked Ji Bozai, the ML, better. Even with his messed up past, I still found him and his emotions more relatable, and he has some decent development. His characterization as a womanizer who is secretly not made me roll my eyes- classic archetype of a misunderstood, secretly upright male lead- but it’s better than his novel version who is ACTUALLY a womanizer. He’s not bad, but the story feels like it’s more about Ming Yi.
Their fake relationship at the beginning is PDA-cringe for all the other characters to watch. We audience know it’s fake, but I still cringed. It’s the same with her ditz act- fake, but I still cringed. Nothing I felt too great about.
By the end, their relationship is rather sweet. I didn’t mind watching it, but I also didn’t like the characters enough to get a huge kick out of it. They have more steamy scenes together than your standard Cdrama, maybe some influence from vertical dramas (I think the director’s background?), but they’re all from before they fully get together.
As for other characters... Situ Ling is the SML. At first, I thought he was such a nice kid and I really wished the best for him. However, at some point his single-minded obsession began to seriously test my patience. And this behavior of taking for granted the people who are ACTUALLY there for you... I find it super annoying, whether in a show or real life.
Not that Ming Yi handles his situation that well. She’s rather thoughtless. A grandiose gesture of self-sacrifice merits a serious conversation. I suppose her reaction is within the range of understandable for somebody of her age and experience- not like I handled everything great when I was 20!- but it still didn’t make me like her. I like a protagonist a lot more when they have a bit of compassion.
There are some pretty great side characters. Ming Yi’s shifu, the two companion beasts, her dancer friend, Meng Yangqiu (the not-too-bright third wheel), are all rather likable.
And I do love Princess Tianji. At first, nobody is taking her seriously, not even her love interest. But she’s self-aware and not dumb, and she does her best with what she has. And as for that love interest? She calls him out on it, and she’s remarkably spot on. ...I did wonder why she never uses any spiritual power (I was curious if she has spiritual veins), but minor point.
I also really like Yan Xiao. His entire story seems set up to make us feel good, because you can tell it has a good chance of working out. I really looked forward to his and the Princess’s scenes, and they do get good screentime for about half of the show. Unfortunately, that’s it. They’re still around afterwards but less important.
The plot is ok. Ming Yi’s lies go on for a bit longer than I think they should. I saw somebody post online a psychoanalysis of her character and why she continues to lie. Many of the points were good and would have added depth to her personality if they were indeed true. But if so, the show should make that clear to the audience, rather than having us fabricate our own interpretations.
In general, I don’t think this show tries too hard to be deep. For instance, Ming Yi’s relationship with her empress mother seems like it has potential for complex emotions, but they really don’t go there. Just some tears here and there.
In addition, there are some villains who seem like they need a therapist more than a beating. The second villain (fox) is a minor example. I’m surprised that the protagonists don't try to talk to them and appeal to their better sides. It might not have worked, but it seems natural to want to try when you see a glimmer of goodness. Instead, though, the show sticks to black and white; enemy characters are to be defeated.
In the latter half, there are lots of tropey, predictable plot elements (eg lying to somebody to protect them) and “secrets” that are hinted so heavily, we’re probably meant to figure it out before the official reveal. It’s great that we audience get to feel smart, but kind of boring to watch characters uncovering what you already know. And Ming Yi seems dumb for not asking obvious questions.
Actually, some characters act so dumb it feels like plot holes (*example in spoilers section), but I’ll overlook plot holes since this is a xianxia. It’s a save-the-world arc by the end, and overall ok but not amazing.
Acting-wise, I think it was alright across the board. Everyone is good-looking. Hou Minghao’s acting has improved since I last saw him, with more subtle expressions. I liked Lu Yuxiao more in another show (Blossoms in Adversity), but it might just be her character I have a problem with here. Also, the script put them in excruciating pain so often that it began to look really fake to me. I think most actors did pretty well but it didn’t stand out.
For production-level stuff, the costumes are gorgeous- in a sparkly, glittering, iridescent way. They are bedazzled, and my inner kindergartener loved it. There are also a lot of really artificial-looking CGI backgrounds. It’s either very fake or very beautiful, depending on your preferences. The fighting is ok, arm waves and poses and CGI. Music is ok.
Basically, this show is ok, but not the best I’ve seen. It feels a little shallow, but is not fluffy enough to be proper shallow entertainment.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This show has a happy ending. Nobody dies except villains. The wrapup lasts more than half an episode, and they cover a surprising number of characters, but more just a glimpse. Most of it is the two leads acting lovey dovey.
MORE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
First, who is so dumb it’s a plot hole? The biggest example I can think of is the emperor of Yaoguang Mountain. Ming Xian is very powerful and was extremely loyal. Even if she's not his biological child, she's still an adopted one, and wouldn’t any idiot play the doting father and bring her onto their side? She’d totally fall for it. This show has a completely skewed view of nature vs nurture.
Second is my rant about Situ Ling. His character progression follows this classic pattern (SML villain) that I personally find super lame. But also, he is just poorly written. The depth and intensity of his obsession is absolutely annoying, and not relatable. A normal person would at least briefly entertain the idea of moving on with their life.
What annoys me the most is that everyone around him seems to push him in the wrong direction, concluding he’s predestined to be evil. I guess he didn’t have any real friends to give him actual good advice or believe in him, just one blind follower who’s too busy trying to market herself. It’s too bad Ming Yi couldn’t be that friend, but she’s too thoughtless and self-centered to put herself in somebody else’s shoes. She’s just like: welp, guess you’re my enemy now.
Ming Yi is many things, but she’s not thoughtful. I don’t think she can even be bothered to feel that bad about it. Her final message for Situ Ling is nice- “I hope you can live for yourself”- but she doesn’t even say it until after he’s dead. The entire thing is rather frustrating to watch.
I wish it stayed a fluffy xianxia, because I wasn’t really connecting with the characters or the plot, but I’m always down for a feel-good, low-stress watch. Unfortunately it moves on- no longer lighthearted, instead people seem to be constantly upset and/or in excruciating pain- before finally turning into another save-the-world story. It’s all alright, but for me, it fell short of being captivating.
Ming Yi, the FL, seems like a character I should like. I always love a strong female lead, and she qualifies. Especially in such a chauvinistic universe, she’s built up some impressive ability through hard work.
But somehow I just couldn’t really connect with her. It’s a little better at the beginning when we get some of her interior monologue, but that sort of goes away, and in general she’s not quite as relatable or down-to-earth as I like. She’s not bad- as a lead, she'll never be too unlikable- but I found her rather thoughtless sometimes.
I liked Ji Bozai, the ML, better. Even with his messed up past, I still found him and his emotions more relatable, and he has some decent development. His characterization as a womanizer who is secretly not made me roll my eyes- classic archetype of a misunderstood, secretly upright male lead- but it’s better than his novel version who is ACTUALLY a womanizer. He’s not bad, but the story feels like it’s more about Ming Yi.
Their fake relationship at the beginning is PDA-cringe for all the other characters to watch. We audience know it’s fake, but I still cringed. It’s the same with her ditz act- fake, but I still cringed. Nothing I felt too great about.
By the end, their relationship is rather sweet. I didn’t mind watching it, but I also didn’t like the characters enough to get a huge kick out of it. They have more steamy scenes together than your standard Cdrama, maybe some influence from vertical dramas (I think the director’s background?), but they’re all from before they fully get together.
As for other characters... Situ Ling is the SML. At first, I thought he was such a nice kid and I really wished the best for him. However, at some point his single-minded obsession began to seriously test my patience. And this behavior of taking for granted the people who are ACTUALLY there for you... I find it super annoying, whether in a show or real life.
Not that Ming Yi handles his situation that well. She’s rather thoughtless. A grandiose gesture of self-sacrifice merits a serious conversation. I suppose her reaction is within the range of understandable for somebody of her age and experience- not like I handled everything great when I was 20!- but it still didn’t make me like her. I like a protagonist a lot more when they have a bit of compassion.
There are some pretty great side characters. Ming Yi’s shifu, the two companion beasts, her dancer friend, Meng Yangqiu (the not-too-bright third wheel), are all rather likable.
And I do love Princess Tianji. At first, nobody is taking her seriously, not even her love interest. But she’s self-aware and not dumb, and she does her best with what she has. And as for that love interest? She calls him out on it, and she’s remarkably spot on. ...I did wonder why she never uses any spiritual power (I was curious if she has spiritual veins), but minor point.
I also really like Yan Xiao. His entire story seems set up to make us feel good, because you can tell it has a good chance of working out. I really looked forward to his and the Princess’s scenes, and they do get good screentime for about half of the show. Unfortunately, that’s it. They’re still around afterwards but less important.
The plot is ok. Ming Yi’s lies go on for a bit longer than I think they should. I saw somebody post online a psychoanalysis of her character and why she continues to lie. Many of the points were good and would have added depth to her personality if they were indeed true. But if so, the show should make that clear to the audience, rather than having us fabricate our own interpretations.
In general, I don’t think this show tries too hard to be deep. For instance, Ming Yi’s relationship with her empress mother seems like it has potential for complex emotions, but they really don’t go there. Just some tears here and there.
In addition, there are some villains who seem like they need a therapist more than a beating. The second villain (fox) is a minor example. I’m surprised that the protagonists don't try to talk to them and appeal to their better sides. It might not have worked, but it seems natural to want to try when you see a glimmer of goodness. Instead, though, the show sticks to black and white; enemy characters are to be defeated.
In the latter half, there are lots of tropey, predictable plot elements (eg lying to somebody to protect them) and “secrets” that are hinted so heavily, we’re probably meant to figure it out before the official reveal. It’s great that we audience get to feel smart, but kind of boring to watch characters uncovering what you already know. And Ming Yi seems dumb for not asking obvious questions.
Actually, some characters act so dumb it feels like plot holes (*example in spoilers section), but I’ll overlook plot holes since this is a xianxia. It’s a save-the-world arc by the end, and overall ok but not amazing.
Acting-wise, I think it was alright across the board. Everyone is good-looking. Hou Minghao’s acting has improved since I last saw him, with more subtle expressions. I liked Lu Yuxiao more in another show (Blossoms in Adversity), but it might just be her character I have a problem with here. Also, the script put them in excruciating pain so often that it began to look really fake to me. I think most actors did pretty well but it didn’t stand out.
For production-level stuff, the costumes are gorgeous- in a sparkly, glittering, iridescent way. They are bedazzled, and my inner kindergartener loved it. There are also a lot of really artificial-looking CGI backgrounds. It’s either very fake or very beautiful, depending on your preferences. The fighting is ok, arm waves and poses and CGI. Music is ok.
Basically, this show is ok, but not the best I’ve seen. It feels a little shallow, but is not fluffy enough to be proper shallow entertainment.
ENDING – READ AHEAD ONLY IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, CONTAINS SPOILERS
This show has a happy ending. Nobody dies except villains. The wrapup lasts more than half an episode, and they cover a surprising number of characters, but more just a glimpse. Most of it is the two leads acting lovey dovey.
MORE MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
First, who is so dumb it’s a plot hole? The biggest example I can think of is the emperor of Yaoguang Mountain. Ming Xian is very powerful and was extremely loyal. Even if she's not his biological child, she's still an adopted one, and wouldn’t any idiot play the doting father and bring her onto their side? She’d totally fall for it. This show has a completely skewed view of nature vs nurture.
Second is my rant about Situ Ling. His character progression follows this classic pattern (SML villain) that I personally find super lame. But also, he is just poorly written. The depth and intensity of his obsession is absolutely annoying, and not relatable. A normal person would at least briefly entertain the idea of moving on with their life.
What annoys me the most is that everyone around him seems to push him in the wrong direction, concluding he’s predestined to be evil. I guess he didn’t have any real friends to give him actual good advice or believe in him, just one blind follower who’s too busy trying to market herself. It’s too bad Ming Yi couldn’t be that friend, but she’s too thoughtless and self-centered to put herself in somebody else’s shoes. She’s just like: welp, guess you’re my enemy now.
Ming Yi is many things, but she’s not thoughtful. I don’t think she can even be bothered to feel that bad about it. Her final message for Situ Ling is nice- “I hope you can live for yourself”- but she doesn’t even say it until after he’s dead. The entire thing is rather frustrating to watch.
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