A Moderately Enjoyable Show That Fell Short
This drama started out good but became increasingly bland as it went on. By the last episode, it was a complete 'wht the fuck?'.To mention the good parts, the costumes are beautiful, graphics are ok ( comparatively), and the acting was, well, tolerable. The ml is the highlight of the show but the fl was just there for me. The second couple held no inerest for me whatsoever, I didn't care whether they got together or not.
Plot was interesting at the beginning. Nothing life changing but it was enjoyable enough to have an escape from the horrors of real life. But the execution and dialogues were mediocre at best.
Some side plots were there, which are also mildly enjoyable. There was so much talk and buildup to the final showdown with the resentful woman but it was all just wrapped up in a very anti climatic way. By then the story was so sappy, I actively wished for the catastrophe of heaven to actually happen, just to the story would end.
If you value plot complexity, good execution and well developed characters, this one might not be for you. When I watched this I was just laying on my bed exhausted from work, so I needed something 'adequate' to set my mind on. I don't think I would've stuck with this under different circumstances. Still a pretty enjoyable drama with a lackluster ending.
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Maybe I was just stressed, idk.
As a person who doesn't usually finish cdramas because at some point I get bored of it, this was a new experience. I have finished maybe 5 cdramas in total. This is one of them.I started watching this in the middle of my exams and finished it in like 6 days. In hindsight I was probably too stressed, i think my brain was tricked into distraction, convincing me that this was an OK watch. But was it?
To state the good parts, the acting of the female lead was really good. The male lead, not so much. But this I felt like mostly due to the fact that the script didn't provide him with many chances to show a varying range of emotions. The supporting cast acting, mainly the villains surprised me with how impressing they were in their portrayals of the characters. The FL makeup didn't do her justice though, the eye makeup specially made her look sickly. The beginning was a bit rushed and there were many parts that were unrealistic, but I decided to boil them down to cdrama logic. The plot was fast paced, not draggy at all, and I found the music to be pleasantly good. Normally I lose interest around ep 20-30 , but lo and behold, it didn't happen for this one. I was so invested in the side stories, and unlike so many other reviews say I didn't find them boring or irrelevant at all. They were incorporated into the story without forcing their way through, but I needed more backstory on the princess. I enjoy a well-written side character but I feel the writers didn't use her character to the full advantage. The dad annoyed me. The ex ANNOYED me.
In many places writers completely abandoned plot branches that should've been considered in a realistic scenario, but I guess pursuing them would make the story too complex for them, so they just pretended they didn't exist. The dramatic close up shots. The flying. Good god, i truly thought i was safe from flying people until the duke started flying around ep 30. Duke Su was mysteriously absent everytime the female lead needed moments to shine by herself, but no matter. I was rolling my eyes and having the time of my life.
And the romance. Oh my. How I loved the romance part. First there was suspicion, and then helping each other for the mutual benefit then mutual respect. The male lead was truly honored to consider the FL an equal and he didn't feel threatened by her intelligence or cunning.He embraced it and admired it and encouraged it. The romance is a slow burn, it wasn't the main focus most of the time and weaved in to the story to complement it and give it flavor. I loved it. When they finally got together I was genuinely tweaking cuz the anticipation paid off. One major disappointment was the lack of battle scenes. My guy Duke Su was going to war, without armor OR a sword. How SO brave if not completely fucking stupid. But cdrama logic, ig. The last battle scene felt like it came out of knowhere and there was no foundation to make the audience feel the urgency or the desperation of that fight. But Wang Xingyue was serving visuals so i didn't mind much. Wang Xing yue, i don't think you'll ever, in your life look better than u looked in The Double ep 40.
I gave this an 8 because I truly enjoyed it. When I stop and actually think about it, i feel maybe the score could be less but it gave respite to my exam-stressed brain, so whtever.
Go watch it. Or don't. Idc.
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