Just spent an evening with the last few episodes - it's such a bad lakorn it's good. And while they use the main sad theme song about as much as the theme song in BOF, it makes for a much nicer ear worm. I think this may have been the last straight out "rape as revenge" lakorn I've seen for a while, which may be a good thing!
Well, what an ending! I did like the conceit of are they the couple in the story or the couple telling the story, though. I can only hope the special "26th" episode ties this up in a more viewer friendly manner. After all, even the Wizard of Oz uses this plot device but ends it happily. And that scholar's hat (or simply black sun hat) suited him!
I'm five episodes in and it reminds me of a Chinese drama crossed with the spy shenanigans of the Wild Wild West tv show. Every time they meet a character, I'm like, "Is that the real character or someone else in disguise?" Very intriguing!
Whew, this story took me a long time to watch - probably much longer than reading the novel. To new watchers, I'd recommend watching it in batches of episodes. There are story arcs that less than exciting but they all tie in together very well at the end.
My top rated dramas are generally slice of life or bleak - Bleak House, Moneyflower, The beauty inside, A Gentle Breeze in the Village and A Werewolf Boy. My top rated comedy is Hi Dulala. Big recommend of The Fierce Wife and Mia 2018 - two versions of the same drama and both are great.
I have not watched this show but I'm finding a corner of my heart for gaming dramas of all types. I think it's because I love the "behind the scenes" industries of entertainment, gaming, business, etc., to be much more interesting than the "on the screen" portions.
Yes, I'd watched the Love 020 movie and drama (which I watched because I'd read and enjoyed the book) but those are hardly about the gaming and mostly about the romances. I was quite ill early in 2020 and watched the unfortunately-named Gank Your Heart - and loved it! The teamwork and the "reach for your goals" spirit was very appealing. When I mentioned the name to my teen son, he excitedly told me about an old-school gamer who first told him that "gank" term and we had a long discussion about games that would make good dramas. That led me to Go Go Squid and The King's Avatar and now - I guess I'll be watching Crossfire. Thanks for the article!
Oh, I've rewatched Ashes so many times that I see what the author is saying and agree. But I also agree that had any of these characters has a "normal" upbringing - there wouldn't have been these situations. And no story!
I've noticed a trend in production where a story is told in different perspectives in different seasons (see Eternal Love 1,2, and 3!) and this show would have benefitted from such a treatment. Although, as it is based on an IP, probably never going to happen. As others have mentioned, just thinking about all the different permutations this story could have taken - oh, it gets my dander up! Thanks Christy!
Really, my only complaint was giving Mu Jue Chen a mother who didn't like Qian Yu. As this is a tiny bit of an ancient times Chinese version of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (not officially but - yeah, it is) - in that drama, his parents were so happy to find someone who can handle their son that they loved her from the beginning. This version's mother in law is a joking version of a disapproving Chinese matron - which is funny in itself - but I felt the poor girl needed some love.
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Yes, I'd watched the Love 020 movie and drama (which I watched because I'd read and enjoyed the book) but those are hardly about the gaming and mostly about the romances. I was quite ill early in 2020 and watched the unfortunately-named Gank Your Heart - and loved it! The teamwork and the "reach for your goals" spirit was very appealing. When I mentioned the name to my teen son, he excitedly told me about an old-school gamer who first told him that "gank" term and we had a long discussion about games that would make good dramas. That led me to Go Go Squid and The King's Avatar and now - I guess I'll be watching Crossfire. Thanks for the article!
I've noticed a trend in production where a story is told in different perspectives in different seasons (see Eternal Love 1,2, and 3!) and this show would have benefitted from such a treatment. Although, as it is based on an IP, probably never going to happen. As others have mentioned, just thinking about all the different permutations this story could have taken - oh, it gets my dander up! Thanks Christy!