Vincenzo Cassano

Yeah good, not one of his best, but decent.

I honestly don’t get why people keep complaining about the female lead getting close to guys and letting them touch or kiss her. Like, hello? This is literally standard in Japanese dramas. So if you’re shocked every time, maybe it’s time to reconsider what you’re signing up for before hitting that play button.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m fine with it, but only if it’s with the male lead. Seeing her all touchy feely with every other guy? That’s a hard nope for me. But hey, welcome to J-drama land. Buckle up.

So it's one of those no means yes dramas. Like I'll say no but I'll enjoy it anyway.

Romance?

Does the ML have the childhood trauma like in the Korean version?

Is this drama a continuation from Douluo continent?

But which has better romance between the leads?

Oh wow, ‘roid monkey’? That’s original, straight out of the 2003 internet insult handbook. Look, I’ve got no problem with actors who don’t match the physique if the role doesn’t demand it. But when the character is clearly meant to be physically imposing and you cast someone who looks like they lose arguments with a stiff breeze, don’t act surprised when people call it out.

Also, wild concept here, bodybuilders can act too. I know your mind is blown, but some of us can lift more than egos and still hit our marks with timing and talent. Ever heard of Dave Bautista? Dwayne Johnson? Hell, even Arnold figured it out, and none of them needed padding to look the part.

So maybe instead of defending weak casting with tired stereotypes, you could raise your standards and expect both physicality and performance from a professional actor. Just a thought.

Ohhh no no, we’re not doing the 'if you gave it less than 7 stars you must be angry and biased' argument again, are we? Because let me tell you, a drama dragging a misunderstanding across 25 out of 32 episodes isn’t misunderstood brilliance, it’s a slow-motion script failure. And if someone calls that ‘watchable’ and still slaps on a 3? Honestly, that’s generous. That’s charity.

Let’s not pretend that just because a drama is shiny and has flute solos every ten minutes, it suddenly deserves critical immunity. Feud was visually stunning, I’ll give it that, but gorgeous cinematography is not a substitute for plot, pacing, or palpable chemistry. I came for a slow burn and got slow emotional starvation instead. By the time romance kicked in, I’d already sent it a breakup text.

And this idea that ratings need to align with some mythical fairness scale? Nah. Reviews are human, yes, but so are standards. If people felt misled, emotionally scammed, or just plain bored by episode 24, they’re allowed to express it with stars, or lack thereof. That’s not bias. That’s feedback.

So while I fully support everyone forming their own opinion, let’s not dismiss critical viewers just because they didn’t drink the fairy dust. Some of us love a good fantasy, but we still expect it to come with logic, not just eyeliner and angst.

Ahh, finally, someone with critical thinking skills who didn’t get hypnotised by dramatic stares and pretty lighting. It’s like we watched Feud and actually paid attention to the writing instead of just frothing over slow-mo sword fights and recycled OSTs.

Because let’s be real, that 25 episode long misunderstanding wasn’t deep or layered, it was emotionally exhausting. I’ve seen better communication in a group chat full of introverts. And the so called romance? It didn’t burn, it barely flickered. If they were feuding, great, go all in. But throwing in some tragic flashbacks and calling it chemistry is like microwaving leftovers and serving it as fine dining.

And you nailed it, those perfect scores for story and plot? I'm convinced some folks watched the trailer and reviewed based on vibes alone.

So thank you for speaking up. We might not be the loudest in the sea of simps, but at least we’re not giving standing ovations to a romance that needed CPR and couples therapy from episode 3.

Let’s keep telling it how it is, because fantasy drama or not, a weak script is still a weak script, even if it’s wearing celestial robes and whispering about fate under the moonlight.

We might not win the popularity contest, but at least we’re not clapping for mediocrity in slow motion.

Exactly this. The talent was right there, and yet somehow it all got lost in the fog of endless misunderstandings and emotional cold fronts. I honestly couldn’t tell if it was the script, the direction, or both, but either way, the actors were definitely better than the material they were handed. It felt like watching a luxury sports car stuck in first gear. All that potential, completely wasted.

Ohhh I see, so we’re gatekeeping forum discussions now? My bad, I didn’t realise I needed to apply for a permit to mention another drama in a discussion thread.

Let me clarify for those clutching their pearls. I brought up Story of Kunning Palace because both dramas starred Bai Lu, and both, in my opinion, suffered from the same problem, emotionally disconnected “romances” that felt more like strained alliances than genuine relationships. It’s called drawing a parallel, not hijacking a thread.

It’s actually very normal (and useful) to compare a current drama to a past one when you're critiquing a performance, script, or tone. Viewers do it all the time, not to merge genres, but to reflect on patterns and expectations. If you don’t like the comparison, that’s fine, but yelling “go rant somewhere else” like this is a private fan club meeting? Cute. 😌

Also, yes, Feud wasn’t meant to be about romance, and that’s totally fine. But when a drama hints at romance, markets it with romantic visuals, and then gives us 30 episodes of murderous miscommunication, people are going to talk about how that felt flat. It’s called critique, not sacrilege.

Lol, I mean… if that was romance, then I guess war crimes are just foreplay now? 😂 But seriously, if emotional suppression, duty over desire, and choosing someone only after your first pick dies counts as a love story, then sure, SOKP delivered.

But you're right, romance does come in many forms… even if that form is mostly repression wrapped in political trauma. Honestly, MDL should have a category like "dark romance" or "emotionally unavailable relationships with a splash of regret" so people know what they're signing up for. Would’ve saved me 36 episodes of confusion.

Let me set the record straight, because some people clearly can’t tell the difference between disliking a story and disliking an actor. I have zero issue with the cast, they did their best with what they were given. My problem is the writing, plain and brutal.

Story of Kunning Palace served us a romance that was so emotionally bankrupt it felt like a contractual obligation. The FL never once showed genuine love for the ML, it reeked of “Well, I can’t have the man I actually love, so I’ll settle.” And yes, she loved the SML, we all saw it, even if the script pretended otherwise. Her chemistry with the ML had the warmth of a tax audit.

Then Feud... where do I even begin? The main couple spends 25 out of 32 episodes locked in a misunderstanding so drawn out it became the actual villain of the story. By the time they got over it, the romance had already flatlined. Zero chemistry. Zero emotional payoff. If the drama is called Feud, then fine, feud away. But don’t toss in romance crumbs at the last minute and call it love. It was less “slow burn” and more “slow emotional starvation.” Let’s not confuse pretty faces and fantasy aesthetics with good writing. We deserve better.

Honestly, calling either of these a romance feels generous. In Kunning Palace, the relationship felt more like an emotional hostage situation, former teacher, cold vibes, zero build-up. Their chemistry was so stiff it needed CPR. And then Feud really said, ‘Let’s wait until episode 25 to admit feelings in a 32-episode drama.’ That’s not a slow burn, that’s a slow burial. By the time the romance kicked in, I was already emotionally divorced from the whole thing. Both dramas had potential, but the love stories? DOA.

I’m honestly disappointed in Bai Lu. She’s one of the best in xianxia, but this script? A complete letdown. That’s twice now, first Story of Kunning Palace, and now this mess. She deserves better roles than a couple flops dressed up in pretty costumes.

Oh, sure, the title’s ‘Feud,’ so I guess ‘romance’ was just a cameo appearance scheduled for the final episode. Why rush feelings when you can have two dozen episodes of awkward silence and eye rolls? It’s less a love story and more a masterclass in how to kill any chemistry before it even starts. Honestly, I’ve seen paint dry with more passion.

Oh wow, what a bold creative choice, dragging out the central misunderstanding until Episode 25 of a 32 episode drama. Brilliant. Who needs romance in a romance, right? Let’s just simmer in miscommunication for 80% of the show and then sprint to emotional resolution like it’s a last minute group project. Honestly, the love story didn’t slow burn, it slow flatlined.

It’s okay, a bit silly at times, and I’m not really a fan of the male lead’s character.

Is love blooming or burning? Are hearts caught between choices, or is fate gently leading them to their happily ever after?

I’m a quarter in, and it’s honestly laughable. You want a character built like a bodybuilder? Then cast one. Don’t insult the audience by dressing up a twig in oversized clothes and pretending we won’t notice. It’s weak casting, and it shows.