NOT THE BEST OF CHENG YI ACTING.
*The Journey of Legend* had the potential to be a powerful drama, but it ended up unbalanced. The script itself was not bad—there were solid story beats and villains who were so evil they made the plot feel dark and heavy, which actually worked in its favor.
The weakest link was definitely the female lead. Her off-screen scandals destroyed the immersion. No matter how the character was written, it was impossible to separate her from the controversies. Instead of feeling sympathy or connection, I felt annoyance whenever she appeared. It’s a huge flaw when an actor’s personal baggage overshadows the story.
Cheng Yi, however, was the saving grace. His performance carried the drama with heart and intensity. The pain he showed after having his wugong stripped away was raw and convincing—you could truly feel his suffering. He gave more than what the drama itself deserved. At the same time, his role as the youngest brother felt frustrating. He tried to help, but his brothers ignored him and never trusted him. He was left to follow, always treated as the “little brother,” while the elder brother—who was clearly not the smartest—chose to believe outsiders instead of his own blood. This dynamic made Cheng Yi’s character even more pitiful and tragic.
The only real disappointment from Cheng Yi’s side was how his voice was handled. Instead of the usual strength and clarity, it often sounded weak and strained, almost like he was dying. Whether this was a production choice or a post-editing issue, it did not do justice to his acting.
In short, the villains were convincingly evil, the script was fine, and Cheng Yi poured everything into his role. But the female lead’s scandals, the poor treatment of Cheng Yi’s voice, and the frustrating family dynamics dragged the drama down, turning what could have been great into something disappointing.
The weakest link was definitely the female lead. Her off-screen scandals destroyed the immersion. No matter how the character was written, it was impossible to separate her from the controversies. Instead of feeling sympathy or connection, I felt annoyance whenever she appeared. It’s a huge flaw when an actor’s personal baggage overshadows the story.
Cheng Yi, however, was the saving grace. His performance carried the drama with heart and intensity. The pain he showed after having his wugong stripped away was raw and convincing—you could truly feel his suffering. He gave more than what the drama itself deserved. At the same time, his role as the youngest brother felt frustrating. He tried to help, but his brothers ignored him and never trusted him. He was left to follow, always treated as the “little brother,” while the elder brother—who was clearly not the smartest—chose to believe outsiders instead of his own blood. This dynamic made Cheng Yi’s character even more pitiful and tragic.
The only real disappointment from Cheng Yi’s side was how his voice was handled. Instead of the usual strength and clarity, it often sounded weak and strained, almost like he was dying. Whether this was a production choice or a post-editing issue, it did not do justice to his acting.
In short, the villains were convincingly evil, the script was fine, and Cheng Yi poured everything into his role. But the female lead’s scandals, the poor treatment of Cheng Yi’s voice, and the frustrating family dynamics dragged the drama down, turning what could have been great into something disappointing.
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