This was lots of fun. I'm new to wuxia, so I'm still finding my feet, but I enjoyed the camaraderie and brotherhood, alliances and self-sacrificing. It reminded me a lot of the chivalric romances from the late medieval/renaissance period + magic. I'm struck by the optimism of this world, the belief that with time cultivating and practicing, they can always get better. No one is ever seated safely at the top of the Top-Ranked List...
(Did LOTR filmmakers watch wuxia? The elves' hair and style from it feels so much like the male characters' hair and style in these dramas!).
At times it felt a bit meandering, and sometimes I'd have to think a bit while watching to figure out how the scene fit into the larger story, and it wasn't always obvious. 😂
The characters were a lot of fun, and I loved watching each character (especially Xiao Se) come into their own. There were some great scenes with the main core group of friends, and they were hands down always my favorite.
A few gripes:
1) Not enough Wuxin (also, that guy does NOT look 17, sorry). The poster, cast list and opening episodes teased him as a main role, and Xiao Se's "best friend," but he really wasn't in it much, nor was he with the friends nearly as much as I would have liked. I did love how they tied together moments in the opening episodes to moments in the final. That was a nice touch!
2) The martial arts technique exposition every time a new character showed up with some skills. I know it was for our (the audience's) benefit, and there were a lot of really fun fight scenes, but it started to get old. Xiao Se spent most of his limited dialogue on exposition about martial arts technique (is this a wuxia thing, or a BoY thing?). It was like getting introduced to new super heroes with new powers constantly, and it was just a lot to take in, and so many charscters and skills to keep track of. So much telling and I would have liked more showing. (Why were there so many Sword Deities? 😂).
3) Xiao Se spent much of the drama being grumpy; I would have liked to see the gradual change a bit more in the small, tedious moments (there was definitely a progression of growth for him, don't get me wrong, but I felt like he pulled out his gem-ness so rarely that it was disappointing since it came out only for the big, grand gestures rather than for smaller, more insignificant ones). I also would have loved to see the wispies nixed... 🫣
4) I don't know why they bothered with the romance. There really was no chemistry between either of the main couples. 😬 If they kept them all friends nothing about the story would have changed.
Overall, though, a great watch!! I enjoyed it very much, gripes aside.
I was looking for a time travel drama, but I did not like this, and its the least favorite drama so far, doesnt…
Well, I think if they didn't miss their kid that would be really messed up. 😅 It was also to emphasize that they had built a life together. They have their biggest reason for making their relationship work in the existence of their son. If they're separating because they had squabbles, misunderstandings and the frustrations that all families go through, then it's best for them (because it's best for HIM) to restore the relationship.
It's obviously not good to continue something abusive, but outside of that, if both parties are willing, things can be sorted out if they really work on things, put in the effort and want to mend the brokenness and hurt. I think that's what the show was trying to demonstrate.
For a moment there I forgot his first love wasnt the fl (on ep 4)The female lead has been kinda unlikeable so…
Really? Haha, I thought that the ML was insufferable (Jang Na Ra is just so cute; both had their problems at the beginning, though, to be sure). Thankfully the ML improves, but he was quite the pill at first. 🤣
There's not a ton of intimacy in this, not compared to a romantic Kdrama, for instance. Some flirting, but not…
Yes, it's not quite as long, and I think I liked it better (though both series are good in their own way). I prefer the ML in the Double (both the ML and FL in The Double are like the FL and ML in LLTG if both in LLTG were more educated and trained in court etiquette and charm). I also like the way the revenge was handled better in the The Double and the ML didn't have such a major slip-up at the end. The main couple just feels more mature in The Double in the way they handle things, and their chemistry and flirting is fire, haha. The way they also team up to get things done because they are both so intelligent and the way they riff off of each is super fun to watch.
There's also an added 5 minute episode that improves the ending and can be watched in lieu of the last 30 minutes of the last episode. If you go to the Double page and ask about it, people can provide a link to it as it's not on the official platforms (but it is an official release). Enjoy!
This is unexpectedly good! Really like the ML, made me think of the male lead in The Double. There were also some…
My biggest pet peeve with the dubbing in Cdramas in when they use adults to voice children. It sounds so cringey and fake, like a man trying to mimicking the way a women talks, or vice versa.
There are adult voice actors who can voice children, but they apparently haven't found them for the Chinese dubbing in Cdramas. 😅
will it have kiss scenes or intimacy like hugging etc. I'm burn out by recommendations of great romance that barely…
There's not a ton of intimacy in this, not compared to a romantic Kdrama, for instance. Some flirting, but not as much flirting as in, say, The Double. Or at least it didn't feel quite as intense as the flirting in that drama.
Is Cheng shaoshang a Mary sue?🤔Someone on Reddit said that and I was shocked.😂
Yeah, definitely not. Flawed, for sure, but feisty and adorable. She feels feral at times due to her neglected upbringing so that your heart goes out to her (at least mine did).
And Zhao Lusi just rocks her part and makes Shao Sheng so lovable.
The Emperor Mingde and one of his (favorite) consorts. I don't know if we ever hear her name. She's not mentioned…
Emperor Mingde is the Emperor in Blood Of Youth. One of his sons inherits the throne by the end of BoY (I think it's Prince Bai, Xiao Se's brother). I haven't seen Dashing Youth, so I'm not sure if he's in it. Sorry.
This one is a little weird in the sense that it was both awesomely horrible and wonderfully fantastic. There were…
It was these kinds of comments that puzzled me about this drama and drew me in and convinced me to watch it. When I eventually showed it to my sister she agreed with me that it was the type of show she shouldn't like, and in theory wouldn't like, but still greatly enjoyed. It's a classic for a reason, flaws and all! It's just such an iconic story, and Lee Min Ho just somehow makes this dorky loser work (and by the end, become inexplicably endearing). 😅
Not a drama for everyone, but it holds it's charms for those willing to brave the "awesomely horrible" to get to the "wonderfully fantastic." 😂
(Did LOTR filmmakers watch wuxia? The elves' hair and style from it feels so much like the male characters' hair and style in these dramas!).
At times it felt a bit meandering, and sometimes I'd have to think a bit while watching to figure out how the scene fit into the larger story, and it wasn't always obvious. 😂
The characters were a lot of fun, and I loved watching each character (especially Xiao Se) come into their own. There were some great scenes with the main core group of friends, and they were hands down always my favorite.
A few gripes:
1) Not enough Wuxin (also, that guy does NOT look 17, sorry). The poster, cast list and opening episodes teased him as a main role, and Xiao Se's "best friend," but he really wasn't in it much, nor was he with the friends nearly as much as I would have liked. I did love how they tied together moments in the opening episodes to moments in the final. That was a nice touch!
2) The martial arts technique exposition every time a new character showed up with some skills. I know it was for our (the audience's) benefit, and there were a lot of really fun fight scenes, but it started to get old. Xiao Se spent most of his limited dialogue on exposition about martial arts technique (is this a wuxia thing, or a BoY thing?). It was like getting introduced to new super heroes with new powers constantly, and it was just a lot to take in, and so many charscters and skills to keep track of. So much telling and I would have liked more showing. (Why were there so many Sword Deities? 😂).
3) Xiao Se spent much of the drama being grumpy; I would have liked to see the gradual change a bit more in the small, tedious moments (there was definitely a progression of growth for him, don't get me wrong, but I felt like he pulled out his gem-ness so rarely that it was disappointing since it came out only for the big, grand gestures rather than for smaller, more insignificant ones). I also would have loved to see the wispies nixed... 🫣
4) I don't know why they bothered with the romance. There really was no chemistry between either of the main couples. 😬 If they kept them all friends nothing about the story would have changed.
Overall, though, a great watch!! I enjoyed it very much, gripes aside.
It's obviously not good to continue something abusive, but outside of that, if both parties are willing, things can be sorted out if they really work on things, put in the effort and want to mend the brokenness and hurt. I think that's what the show was trying to demonstrate.
Apparently only two or three of the kids from the entire group survive. Hard pass.
There's also an added 5 minute episode that improves the ending and can be watched in lieu of the last 30 minutes of the last episode. If you go to the Double page and ask about it, people can provide a link to it as it's not on the official platforms (but it is an official release). Enjoy!
There are adult voice actors who can voice children, but they apparently haven't found them for the Chinese dubbing in Cdramas. 😅
And Zhao Lusi just rocks her part and makes Shao Sheng so lovable.
I didn't even realize the ML in this is Wuxin in BoY at first, because he looks so different bald. 😅 Much prettier with hair. 😏
Thanks for letting me know, though. :)
Also, I love this line about Xiao Se (said by an older man disappointed by being out-matured by a "kid"):
"That child reads human hearts."
Not a drama for everyone, but it holds it's charms for those willing to brave the "awesomely horrible" to get to the "wonderfully fantastic." 😂