Could not agree more with what you said. I like SBM due to its storyline. But overall, I would still rate NIF, NIF 2, and Joy of Life better.
I don't dislike NIF storyline but Mei Changsu had it easy in that series. There were no surprises. MCS was like a god, able to predict everything that might happen in the future. Prince Yu, the Crown Prince and later the Head of the Bureau were no match for him. I prefer NIF 2 storyline better with my favorite male actor (Liu Haoran) heading the cast. There were more element of wuxia and jianghu in NIF 2. Joy of Life was highly entertaining too and rank very highly in my book. Can't wait for its sequel.
Cheng Yi looks pathetic in SBM, right? Well, he is suited to play this kind of role because he has such an innocent face. If you can stomach him getting killed 9x in Love n Redemption by Yuan Bingyan, then nothing should stop you from enjoying this version of Cheng Yi.
I don't dislike NIF storyline but Mei Changsu had it easy in that series. There were no surprises. MCS was like a god, able to predict everything that might happen in the future. Prince Yu, the Crown Prince and later the Head of the Bureau were no match for him. I prefer NIF 2 storyline better with my favorite male actor (Liu Haoran) heading the cast. There were more element of wuxia and jianghu in NIF 2. Joy of Life was highly entertaining too and rank very highly in my book. Can't wait for its sequel.
Cheng Yi looks pathetic in SBM, right? Well, he is suited to play this kind of role because he has such an innocent face. If you can stomach him getting killed 9x in Love n Redemption by Yuan Bingyan, then nothing should stop you from enjoying this version of Cheng Yi.