This review may contain spoilers
One of the best c-dramas I've ever seen
This actually might be one of my most favourite c-drama of all time.
(Note - review was written late 2025 before I learned that marking the show as complete on my list and adding the note was NOT in fact me leaving a proper review :'))
I'm very late to the game, but I only just finished this show a few weeks ago... and it's taken me at least 2 weeks to recover from it (in the best way possible). I've been spending this whole time rewatching my favourite scenes, and basically the first 30 eps in order to soothe my broken heart.
I knew around ep 15 that this drama would break my heart, and my oh my, break my heart it did, but put it together all at the same time.
The characters? Top quality.
The story? Incredible.
The music? GORGEOUS.
The romance? Beautiful doesn't cover it.
Let's break them down one by one.
The characters. OH MY GOD I love them all. Each one of them is so special for their own reason, I don't even care if it makes them slightly predictable.
NYJ - Probably my most favourite male lead character ever. Now this is A MAN!! Respect, empathy, maturity, loyalty, the whole package.
RRY - All the other reviews were absolutely correct. THIS is a badass female lead! My god. The absolute badass female lead of my dreams. Her growth to love was so natural and great to watch.
The 4 musketeers - *CRIES* love them, love them, love them a million times. The comaderie, the brotherhood, the love. I felt it all.
The Princess - OH MY GOD, what a woman she became. Holy character growth.
LTG - He surprised me. I thought he would wake up a lot earlier than he did, but then it made the moment that he did so so so sweet. The jealousy scenes were just too funny.
The story. Is simple enough and not overshadowing what is really important in this show: Each character's journey to love, no matter the type of love or what it may look like.
Essentially... Crew leave for quest -> everything that can go wrong will go wrong.
I personally felt that this allowed the audience to feel the trepidation and slightly hopeful pessimism of the delegation, like we're right there travelling with them.
The music. C-drama classic with some rocky elements? Sign me up. And of course, can't beat the aura of LYN singing the own opening theme song of his show. Every song, all the way down to the BGM, is beyond incredible. We have action songs, romantic songs, sad songs, and oh lord the song called "Afraid of Dreams"? DANG.
Extra honourable mention to Ruyi's badass Assassin's Creed-esque entrance music, I ate it up every single time.
And lastly, the romance. There's no fantasy, no gods, no special powers. But what there is, is the most mature, realistic view of a beautiful, nourishing and healthy relationship. The pacing was perfect, and the words "I love you" never needed to be said. Not when it could be felt from every fibre of their beings, and in everything they did.
I must have watched the scene in ep. 11 of what is essentially NYJ's love confession almost 100 times:
"Don't come closer, are you crazy?"
"I have gone crazy! I went crazy when I saw you injured like this!"
No words. Both LYN and LSS's acting in that scene? All the emotion in their eyes? Oh my.
This was my first time seeing LSS in anything. And she took my breath away with her acting skills
Basically this show is the most heartbreakingly beautiful thing you'll ever watch. Yes you might hate the ending (but you can't say it was a total surprise), but the journey is well worth it. 500/10 stars.
(Note - review was written late 2025 before I learned that marking the show as complete on my list and adding the note was NOT in fact me leaving a proper review :'))
I'm very late to the game, but I only just finished this show a few weeks ago... and it's taken me at least 2 weeks to recover from it (in the best way possible). I've been spending this whole time rewatching my favourite scenes, and basically the first 30 eps in order to soothe my broken heart.
I knew around ep 15 that this drama would break my heart, and my oh my, break my heart it did, but put it together all at the same time.
The characters? Top quality.
The story? Incredible.
The music? GORGEOUS.
The romance? Beautiful doesn't cover it.
Let's break them down one by one.
The characters. OH MY GOD I love them all. Each one of them is so special for their own reason, I don't even care if it makes them slightly predictable.
NYJ - Probably my most favourite male lead character ever. Now this is A MAN!! Respect, empathy, maturity, loyalty, the whole package.
RRY - All the other reviews were absolutely correct. THIS is a badass female lead! My god. The absolute badass female lead of my dreams. Her growth to love was so natural and great to watch.
The 4 musketeers - *CRIES* love them, love them, love them a million times. The comaderie, the brotherhood, the love. I felt it all.
The Princess - OH MY GOD, what a woman she became. Holy character growth.
LTG - He surprised me. I thought he would wake up a lot earlier than he did, but then it made the moment that he did so so so sweet. The jealousy scenes were just too funny.
The story. Is simple enough and not overshadowing what is really important in this show: Each character's journey to love, no matter the type of love or what it may look like.
Essentially... Crew leave for quest -> everything that can go wrong will go wrong.
I personally felt that this allowed the audience to feel the trepidation and slightly hopeful pessimism of the delegation, like we're right there travelling with them.
The music. C-drama classic with some rocky elements? Sign me up. And of course, can't beat the aura of LYN singing the own opening theme song of his show. Every song, all the way down to the BGM, is beyond incredible. We have action songs, romantic songs, sad songs, and oh lord the song called "Afraid of Dreams"? DANG.
Extra honourable mention to Ruyi's badass Assassin's Creed-esque entrance music, I ate it up every single time.
And lastly, the romance. There's no fantasy, no gods, no special powers. But what there is, is the most mature, realistic view of a beautiful, nourishing and healthy relationship. The pacing was perfect, and the words "I love you" never needed to be said. Not when it could be felt from every fibre of their beings, and in everything they did.
I must have watched the scene in ep. 11 of what is essentially NYJ's love confession almost 100 times:
"Don't come closer, are you crazy?"
"I have gone crazy! I went crazy when I saw you injured like this!"
No words. Both LYN and LSS's acting in that scene? All the emotion in their eyes? Oh my.
This was my first time seeing LSS in anything. And she took my breath away with her acting skills
Basically this show is the most heartbreakingly beautiful thing you'll ever watch. Yes you might hate the ending (but you can't say it was a total surprise), but the journey is well worth it. 500/10 stars.
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