1
heavy on romantic fluff, too light on the plot
If romance is what you are wanting then you will probably find this drama very enjoyable. The focus is completely on the love story between the leads. It is visually stunning from the sets, to the costumes, to the CGI of the magic it delivers constantly beautiful, well choreographed scenes and the plot circling around the romance makes this a decent watch. These two characters provide a home for each other when they are each at their loneliest.
Overall I did like many things about this. Mu Qingge's character is patient and kind but also smart, strong, reliable, and loyal. She is everything I like in a female character and watching her as Yi Shui's master is truly perfection. Her portrayal of this character's steadfast morality and playfulness as she teaches him was my favorite part of the entire drama. Su Yi Shui is also portrayed very well in his young, angry at everything kind of introduction to the way her falls in love because of the first show of kindness he receives. He contains that protective quality I also love to see in my main men. The pair has a likeable chemistry and watchable presence.
What this story lacks however is a decent plot to carry the romance. There is absolutely no world building in this drama. From episode one to the end you are just thrust into a world they never properly set up or explain to the viewer. You have no real grasp of what kind of world this is, how the magic system really works, the destictions between the sects or even the mortal and immortal worlds and how they work. Instead the story constantly just plunges along with the sole focus of creating drama for the two leads to have to overcome.
While I love Mu Qingge, I don't particularly like Ranran as much. Her constant lovesick version of Qingge makes her scenes start to feel repetitive and boring. While it can be seen as loyalty I often more felt it annoying. This drama is also way too long for what the plot offers. There are several episodes where it felt repetitive as they go in the same circle of him pushing her away, her getting upset but then chasing after him again. On and on again until the end. It also does not help that my two least favorite tropes (master/disciple relationship, and amnesia) are used multiple times in this. The first was okay when Qingge was the master purely because Yishui was a reluctant disciple and never really called her that, but once they switch I found myself cringing everytime I heard her say 'shifu' toward the latter half of the drama. Her amnesia also went on for far too long just for them to end up switching again.
Many characters are also vastly under developed. Mu Ranwu is there to be the villain but with not enough interaction to make the viewer understand why she feels the way she does. I also found the first actress that portrayed her did a much better job. Most other characters are also set up and behave exactly the same even though she is supposed to have reappeared 18 years later. In that time characters would have aged, matured, or grown stronger but they are all exactly the same as when she dies the first time making the time jump irrelevant.
Overall this drama is okay but the writing does not do a good job of building a world that makes you feel invested nor does it provide any kind of emotional response from the viewer. The reveals are all easily predictable and uninteresting by the time they happen.
Overall I did like many things about this. Mu Qingge's character is patient and kind but also smart, strong, reliable, and loyal. She is everything I like in a female character and watching her as Yi Shui's master is truly perfection. Her portrayal of this character's steadfast morality and playfulness as she teaches him was my favorite part of the entire drama. Su Yi Shui is also portrayed very well in his young, angry at everything kind of introduction to the way her falls in love because of the first show of kindness he receives. He contains that protective quality I also love to see in my main men. The pair has a likeable chemistry and watchable presence.
What this story lacks however is a decent plot to carry the romance. There is absolutely no world building in this drama. From episode one to the end you are just thrust into a world they never properly set up or explain to the viewer. You have no real grasp of what kind of world this is, how the magic system really works, the destictions between the sects or even the mortal and immortal worlds and how they work. Instead the story constantly just plunges along with the sole focus of creating drama for the two leads to have to overcome.
While I love Mu Qingge, I don't particularly like Ranran as much. Her constant lovesick version of Qingge makes her scenes start to feel repetitive and boring. While it can be seen as loyalty I often more felt it annoying. This drama is also way too long for what the plot offers. There are several episodes where it felt repetitive as they go in the same circle of him pushing her away, her getting upset but then chasing after him again. On and on again until the end. It also does not help that my two least favorite tropes (master/disciple relationship, and amnesia) are used multiple times in this. The first was okay when Qingge was the master purely because Yishui was a reluctant disciple and never really called her that, but once they switch I found myself cringing everytime I heard her say 'shifu' toward the latter half of the drama. Her amnesia also went on for far too long just for them to end up switching again.
Many characters are also vastly under developed. Mu Ranwu is there to be the villain but with not enough interaction to make the viewer understand why she feels the way she does. I also found the first actress that portrayed her did a much better job. Most other characters are also set up and behave exactly the same even though she is supposed to have reappeared 18 years later. In that time characters would have aged, matured, or grown stronger but they are all exactly the same as when she dies the first time making the time jump irrelevant.
Overall this drama is okay but the writing does not do a good job of building a world that makes you feel invested nor does it provide any kind of emotional response from the viewer. The reveals are all easily predictable and uninteresting by the time they happen.
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