Lilly1008

Excellent start!
The series does not waste time on endless introductions, but jumps into action immediately and without hesitating.
Getting to know the characters out of the action is totally my cup of tea. Same goes for the way this series got filmed.
The 36 episodes will pass by all to quickly, I fear, and we'll get left behind with stale taste of all those draggy multi episodes shows unable to gain speed although they are half way through broadcast already.
I wished, we'd get more series like "Bloody Romance", "Guardian" or the "New Smiling Proud Wanderer": less episodes, well paced, well acted, well written and well directed.
The 20, 30 and 40 episodes series worked pretty well in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.
I don't know why so many of today's directors seem to be unable to tell a story in less than 50, 60 or 70 episodes.
Aside of a few exceptions like "Three Kingdoms", "Water Margin", "Heroes of Sui and Tang" or "Tribes and Empires", where the multi episodes adventure worked pretty well, they mostly create boredom and dragging storylines nowadays...

I wtached it RAW on YoYo and subbed on 4udrama. The problem I have has nothing to do with the subs but with the poor and boring storyline.

Oh yes! Fully agree!
Chu Shu Zhi is absolutely amazing. What a cool and handsome lad. Wow!
Know, he, better the actor (Ocaen Jiang), reminds me of Tom Wlaschiha our German export for GoT, who played Jaqen H'ghar in the series. The actors are of the same type. Kind of.

20 episodes into the series, I start to wonder, when this will finally gain a little more speed and vividness.
Watched the whole thing twice (RAW and subbed) and I find it just boring and awfully draggy. Everything needs felt hours to develop and the scenes go on and on and on.
Yawn!
Actually, I'd have already dropped it, but I'm hopelessly in love with the gorgeous "Poison Master" Gu Qi Shao and with "Doctor" Gu Bei Yue.
The stroy itself, though, feels like a flavourless stew mixed from ingredients taken from every single placae drama ever filmed up till today.

You totally speak my heart and mind. I think, this might be one of the best drama series, I watched, so far. The leads, the team, the antagonists - all well chosen.
And I confess, I've quite a soft spot for Zhao Yun Lan's father. Holy moly, that man is handsome. lol

Yay! I'm not alone, I'm not alone!

As much as I love the leading trio - Qi Shao, Yun Xi and Fei Ye - but why does this series feel so awfully draggy? There was no need to turn it into a rigmarole! Ten episodes less and it would have been in a constant flow...
But instead, a whole episode gets wasted on the horrible princess' pimples...oh man...

I'd willingly trade in all Palace Dramas featuring scheming concubines, rotten princesses, and everyone-falls-for me Mary Sues for a single episode of "Guardian" .
The way Bai Yu and Zhu Yi Long perform the "bromance" theme here, is excellent acting on the highest level.

How cute is this, please!!!!!!!!!!
While I'm not much a fan of all the CGI, I'm totally willing to forget about it, because I'm already all over in love with the main couple and the way the story started off.
Ren Jia Lun and Yang Zi: These two have an adorable chemistry and I can't wait to dive deeper into this lovely story.
The imbedded songs are beautiful to listen to as well, and the animation of the cheeky little White Snake had me smile more than once.
Now, the wait for the subs starts...

Just be careful with "Day and Night". If you like crime series - that one is highly addictive.

Honestly, did it really need that awfully annoying Quyang Ning Jing who runs after Tang Li like being in heat???
I don't know, if she's canon, as I didn't read the novel, yet, but if she is, there's no excuse (not even an author on speed) for such a horrible kind of girl.
In case, she's an original character, created for the series, I wonder, who, for heavens sake, needs a charcater like this???
I am willing to believe a lot, but, honestly, does anyone really believe a man vested with at least half a brain would fall for such a hysterical critter???

I'm a bit of a "Water Margin" (2011) nerd. Especially, because it is none of those awful romantic overdosed "I'm Mary Sue and everyone falls for me" dramas. It's fully based on friendship, loyalty and brotherhood. Sadly, it's not available with English subs.
Another series, I really enjoyed, which also fits into the friendship, loyalty, brotherhood stories is "Heroes in Sui and Tang" (2013). And that one is available with subs. I think, I've a link somewhere.
Sadly, I'm not of great help if it comes to modern drama series as I barely watch them. What I really loved, though, were both seasons of "Wu Xin" and the first season of crime series "Day and Night".

You speak my mind as we already found out.
I decided to download the upcoming episodes and to thumb through them for screencaps, skipping the dragging parts - and then I'll put in on hold and watch "Destiny of the White Snake", which starts next Monday and "Peace in the Palace, Peace in Chang'an", which starts in two Weeks.

Just had to vent my disappointment. They brought together such a nice cast with Zhang Zhe Han, Ju Jing Yi and the gorgeous Merxat in the lead, but I'm not sure if I want to finish it if it goes on like this. :(

Just finished episode five and slowly but constantly my initial enthusiasm about the series starts to turn into outright boredom.

Almost every scene feels draggy. Especially that battle scene at the end of episode five appeared to go on and on and on endlessly with always the same images of beaten soldiers doing somersaults. What a horrible choreography of a battle scene!
And, honestly, did they really waste a first class actor like Yu Bo for one single episode???
I can't believe that!!! That's not even a guest appearance!!! That's a joke!!!

What also really goes on my nerves is that awful voice actress they chose for "Yun Xi" Ju Jing Yi. Her performances are always the same and she always sounds like a pouting little girl that didn't get her lollipop before dinner...

If there'd not be that amazingly outstanding performance of a one gorgeous Yalkun Merxat who outshines the whole remaining cast easily in his role as "Poison Master", I'd drop this series at exactly this point of time.

Hits the nail on the head. ;)

Just be aware, that it's not like GoT. It's just the actor who reminds me of another actor. ;)
But, yes, the two have something in common.

I literally felt the urge to tar and feather them (the writers and producers) in old medieval style. Normally, I'm a really calm and balanced person, but this was hard to bear for my inner witch.
It felt a bit like when they ended CSI: Miami and CSI: New York without a (proper ending for the) final season(s). I'm still mad at those decisions too. Pffff...

That's great! Thank you for the hint.

Hello, dear!
I watch "Guardian" RAW on Youku. They upload one episode per day for all non-VIP's. Here's the link:
https://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzY2MDI5NDM0MA.html

Two subbed episodes are already up too on dailymotion. Check the post below for the link.