1
Exceeds Expectations
First time writing a review before finishing a show. I will hopefully remember to come back and update this once I've finished it. But I had left the below in the comment section and someone requested I add it to the review section. The star scores are NOT my final thoughts I just had to put something to submit the review...They will most likely change later on.
Okay, so I've given the show a shot, and am pleasantly surprised. I had mentioned the other day in the comments that this genre wasn't really my favorite for various reasons, but I've finished episode 5 and so far none of my major issues with XianXia(shout out to Nina for helping me understand the different genres) productions has come up.
The color grading is natural and people have individual skin tones that don't look overblown(whitewashed by lighting/post production editing). The sets are mostly practical and feel grounded in a real world rather than a floating space rock in rainbow nothingness. The skies have depth and texture to them; properly conveying tension within action scenes. They also utilize atmosphere(light smoke to give depth within a camera. Trust that without it shots feel "off".)
The make-up isn't too over the top for the main leads & the hair is dynamic and changes from time to time.
There was a lot of exposition to get through in that first episode but they kept it interesting. Their use of montage to show her growing up in the village was top tier. The animation to live-action intro was interesting and well done.
The cinematography is thoughtful, but not overdone. Sometimes this genre has very over exaggerated zoom ins on characters as they squint at something. This one doesn't do that. Because they are using the same studio that everyone and their mother uses I can say with certainty that the set dressers have done amazing work. The places feel lived in and cared for. There are no large empty rooms that cheapen the look. There is practical use of sunlight for a lot of scenes, so snaps for that. They are following action film rules which is nice. Pretty much, when they cut from one shot to another during a fight, the action is taking place in the same point within the frame and not jumping around. They linger on expressions/moments to convey internal emotions. The camera angles make moments feel intimate instead of making it feel like two actors on a large set.
Overall I'm enjoying the show. The production has done an amazing job grounding the fantastical elements with real world objects and practical effects. The visual effects aren't the very best I've ever seen, but for a tv show...they are some of the best.
I think I'll continue watching.
Okay, so I've given the show a shot, and am pleasantly surprised. I had mentioned the other day in the comments that this genre wasn't really my favorite for various reasons, but I've finished episode 5 and so far none of my major issues with XianXia(shout out to Nina for helping me understand the different genres) productions has come up.
The color grading is natural and people have individual skin tones that don't look overblown(whitewashed by lighting/post production editing). The sets are mostly practical and feel grounded in a real world rather than a floating space rock in rainbow nothingness. The skies have depth and texture to them; properly conveying tension within action scenes. They also utilize atmosphere(light smoke to give depth within a camera. Trust that without it shots feel "off".)
The make-up isn't too over the top for the main leads & the hair is dynamic and changes from time to time.
There was a lot of exposition to get through in that first episode but they kept it interesting. Their use of montage to show her growing up in the village was top tier. The animation to live-action intro was interesting and well done.
The cinematography is thoughtful, but not overdone. Sometimes this genre has very over exaggerated zoom ins on characters as they squint at something. This one doesn't do that. Because they are using the same studio that everyone and their mother uses I can say with certainty that the set dressers have done amazing work. The places feel lived in and cared for. There are no large empty rooms that cheapen the look. There is practical use of sunlight for a lot of scenes, so snaps for that. They are following action film rules which is nice. Pretty much, when they cut from one shot to another during a fight, the action is taking place in the same point within the frame and not jumping around. They linger on expressions/moments to convey internal emotions. The camera angles make moments feel intimate instead of making it feel like two actors on a large set.
Overall I'm enjoying the show. The production has done an amazing job grounding the fantastical elements with real world objects and practical effects. The visual effects aren't the very best I've ever seen, but for a tv show...they are some of the best.
I think I'll continue watching.
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