MDL has a really low bar when it comes to ratings lol I would have given it more credibility during the earlier…
I understand your point, and you’re right. MDL ratings really aren’t always the best measure of quality. Douban does feel a bit more balanced since locals tend to be more critical of their own dramas.
But at the same time, I think ratings here can still influence people a lot. Personally, I also check ratings before starting a drama, just to see if it’s “safe” to invest time in. So when good shows get unfairly down-rated, there’s a real risk that people will skip them and miss out. That’s why it can feel frustrating, especially for dramas like The Journey of Legend that deserve more recognition.
In the end, you’re right. We should just watch what we enjoy. But I still wish the scores reflected the quality a bit better, so more people would give these hidden gems a chance.
Too many haters on this site. How do you justify rating a draggy drama like Shadow Love higher than The Journey of Legend? TJOL has amazing wuxia action, brilliant choreography, and real content, yet it’s stuck between 7.9 and 8.0. Meanwhile, SL with way less action and plenty of dragging gets an 8.6 just because it feeds the teenie romance crowd? This is why real wuxia gets underrated while shallow shows are hyped. Haters will always hate quality when it doesn’t match their shallow tastes. I've aired it out. I can sleep well tonight.
I just started and barely in episode 5 but I can't help thinking that ML is a bit too dumb, quiet and naïve for my liking. It makes it worse that Xu Kai himself is the one playing the role. So pissed.
I am currently on episode 14, and one detail that stands out is the portrayal of the male lead. Compared to his sharpness before the accident, he now appears noticeably less intelligent, almost diminished in wit. It raises the question of whether this shift is intentional for the plot or an inconsistency in characterization.
Another point of interest is Zhuge Kong. While many viewers seem to dislike him, labeling him antagonistic, I do not find him particularly hateful. His defining trait appears to be his obsessive competitiveness with the male lead rather than outright malice. He seems more fixated on proving himself superior than on causing genuine harm. This nuance makes me question why he receives such strong negative reactions from audiences, some even joking about wanting to physically strike him.
It will be interesting to see how both the male lead’s development and Zhuge Kong’s role evolve as the story progresses. I look forward to discovering whether these impressions shift in later episodes.
I’m torn about Chu. Is he truly a villain… or just a lost soul shaped by a life without proper guidance? There’s something about him...that quiet presence, those intense eyes — that makes him so likable. But then, he’s chosen to work for the Chancellor, and that choice casts a long shadow. If he ends up being the villain, it’ll break my heart, because I’ve grown attached to him. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s running from a dark, ugly past that refuses to let him go.
At this point, I think I'm done with Chinese dramas where the villain spends several episodes being pure evil—slaughtering people, torturing innocents, poisoning entire families like it’s a hobby—and then what? They get a quick, painless death. That’s justice? After all that bloodshed, they just drop dead and the story moves on like it’s poetic or something. It’s laughable. Honestly, it feels like ancient China, according to these shows, was run by demons in silk robes—and the writers are practically applauding them. At this point, the villains aren’t being punished—they’re being rewarded with screen time and dramatic music. *Spits*
He can speak with his mouth... and his eyes! He's manly and naturally handsome. Too bad I don't see much of his works nowadays. One of the few Chinese actors I admire. Loved him in 'The Sword and the Brocade'.
And it keeps getting better and better! Not sure who this might upset, but I gotta say this drama deserves more than an 8.5 rating. No shade to romance fans, but Legend of Zang Hai is way better and done so much more smoothly than TPOB, which somehow has a higher score. I'm watching both simultaneously btw. Feels like people are more into romance now than the real quality stuff. Damn!
Acting and character chemistry is not the same as romantic chemistry.That some of you are incapable of understanding…
I’m pretty sure I already mentioned that I just started watching this drama—I'm only on episode 7 right now. But I came here to read the comments and saw people saying that the cold-blooded murderer eventually gets along with the male lead. That’s exactly what I don’t want to see happen in this show. I want to see hot-served karma! Consequences, not excuses. I don’t want the story to let him off the hook for the terrible things he’s done. Karma needs to come through.
I just started watching this drama but I just can't bear seeing lots of comments about the "chemistry" between the male lead and the Marquis. I honestly can't relate. The Marquis is a deeply disturbing character—cruel and utterly merciless. No matter how his relationship with the male lead develops later on, I can't overlook the fact that he's a cold-blooded killer of women and innocent children. That kind of evil isn't something I can ever admire or excuse.
I'm nearly halfway through this drama, and honestly - no apology this time - the director has to be a sadist. How else do you explain Fu Ling CONSTANTLY getting away with her evil schemes? I don't care if she's a demon or not; she's even crueler than her master. She's so despicable, I literally feel rage every time she's on screen.
But at the same time, I think ratings here can still influence people a lot. Personally, I also check ratings before starting a drama, just to see if it’s “safe” to invest time in. So when good shows get unfairly down-rated, there’s a real risk that people will skip them and miss out. That’s why it can feel frustrating, especially for dramas like The Journey of Legend that deserve more recognition.
In the end, you’re right. We should just watch what we enjoy. But I still wish the scores reflected the quality a bit better, so more people would give these hidden gems a chance.
I've aired it out. I can sleep well tonight.
Another point of interest is Zhuge Kong. While many viewers seem to dislike him, labeling him antagonistic, I do not find him particularly hateful. His defining trait appears to be his obsessive competitiveness with the male lead rather than outright malice. He seems more fixated on proving himself superior than on causing genuine harm. This nuance makes me question why he receives such strong negative reactions from audiences, some even joking about wanting to physically strike him.
It will be interesting to see how both the male lead’s development and Zhuge Kong’s role evolve as the story progresses. I look forward to discovering whether these impressions shift in later episodes.
Not sure who this might upset, but I gotta say this drama deserves more than an 8.5 rating. No shade to romance fans, but Legend of Zang Hai is way better and done so much more smoothly than TPOB, which somehow has a higher score. I'm watching both simultaneously btw. Feels like people are more into romance now than the real quality stuff. Damn!