This review may contain spoilers
Captivating and thrilling mind games within a dark bromance.
There is life before watching this show, and there is life after. I don't think I will ever recover from this one. The dynamic between Xu Jingzhi and Lu Ran (aka Zhuang Ming Cheng) was intense and deliciously fascinating to watch. The main actors and their younger counterparts did an incredible job portraying such complex characters. At certain times, it didn't even feel like acting. It was so raw and emotional and some scenes felt so real, the chemistry was insane.Lu Ran's character was especially thrilling to watch, as he was manipulative, calculative, downright crazy, and yet somehow I couldn't help but root for him. Although his actions weren't exactly morally justifiable, in the eyes of his character, revenge was the only way for him to live. Both him and Xu Jingzhi showed the process of being trapped by the past, and learning to let go of the pain.
Besides the acting, the cinematography was also excellent, each episode was so visually pleasing, and many scenes made my jaw drop by how beautifully filmed it was. When the angles and lighting are just right, along with the mood, it becomes perfect. So many times I re-watched scenes several times, over and over. The OST was also really good, I feel like many of the instrumentals and songs fit the scenes perfectly.
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I think one of the most important scenes was the hug scene between the main leads near the end. It was such an impactful moment, and it was XJ's way of showing LR that he was still there for him. The way LR instantly broke down in that moment just shows how much he craved the love and acceptance of XJ. His whole life since early childhood, XJ was the only shining light for him.
I am honestly in awe of how much I loved this show. If you like mystery/thrillers with top-tier chemistry and a compelling plot, please give this a try.
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