This review may contain spoilers
Braving the cold and winning thru the calamities of life to find a HOME | TRUST above eveything else
Is it really that hard, exhausting and heartbreaking to find a home?
I feel so bad for Zhuang Hanyan for having to suffer all those traumatic and inhumane experiences growing up; only to experience a more intensified and horrifying events after she went back "home" when all these times, going back means so much to her as it gives her hope to finally feel the warmth and comfort of a family she never really got to experience growing up.
This drama seriously deserved the popularity, all the praises and everything it received. I was utterly speechless on how grave the situation and all the occurences was on the 1st episode and I thought it was just an opening act of how crazy this drama is but soon it shall be lighter...but man! How wrong was I for thinking that way. They placed the intensity and chilling aura on top and never really tried to lower it down even once! Even those romantic and seemingly lighthearted scenes always ended up on a terrifying comfrontation I never really expected at all.
Consisteny on this drama is top-notch. What's more astonishing is their decision to keep the drama's vibe grim and dreadful till the very end! I say, the scriptwriters deserves a whole round of applause for this impressive masterpiece. From ZHYs remarkable first appearance infront of the Zhuang Mansion, to how she stirred some troubles to see everyone's true color and intension towards her really made me realize that she shouldn't be underistimated in any way.
I mean, she should've been buffled that the one who welcomed her was her father's consort whose kindness felt suspiciously dangerous but no she was not! Not to mention the treatment she received from her Mother and Grandmother during her first week on the household—getting refused to meet them + the blatant words her Mother threw at her were like daggers piercing-through-deeper each moment. The emotional burden and torment must have been tough but she carried on and was still able to fend for herself every now and then. Although she fails oftentimes to see through the schemes, what I like about her is that she was always ready for a counter-attack. And at the end of the day, those experiences served as a good reminder that she shouldn't be complacent and should always be alert as the danger lurks around her 24/7.
Additionally, Zhuang Hanyan never schemed to harm her family despite the countless betrayals from them—all she wanted was to give them a warning, a lesson. So It really must be painful for her to see them attack her with all their might to the expense of her life.
"Saying the softest words while doing the doing the most ruthless things." ZHY to ZSY.
The line above etched in my mind for how accurate it was. I say, a well deserved spotlight goes to Zhuang Shiyang (Hanyan's father) for how cunning, cruel, manipulative and ingeniously vile he is. Man should win the MVP & Best in Scheming Award for how seemless his plans were and how great he was in feigning ignorance and portraying this kindest-man-ever role while seemlessly manipulating eveything in the shadows. Man was a shit of a husband and would pass as the shittiest beyond salvation Father that I have ever known in my entire drama watching journey in this lifetime. A malevolent and an evil incarnate person—Purely diabolical! The type of person who doesn't deserve to be a Husband, more so a father. He deserved to be unlove and to suffrt the most painful death there is.
Chemistry between our main leads are actually good. I love how both of them sought one another not for love but for a different purpose yet still ended up together. I also like how it's the male lead who ended up helplessly in love and is always in agony for every expected yet unexpected betrayal from Hanyan. He love her already but still did all the scheming so he's expecting her to be mad but never really expect her to go as far as try killing him every single time. This man is easy but at the same time quite complicated to love. So I was really glad when they started to truly help each other at the end. Specially after Ruan Xi Wen told Hanyan that it is not love and affection that's important in a relationship but TRUST! So it feels nice and fulfilling to witness that they've finally become a couple who have developed mutual understanding and trust towards each other.
Lastly, the trademark of this drama should have been blood-stained Hanfu's. Althrough out the drama, what truly stood out to me are the Hanfu's who's stained by blood—specially Zhou Ruyin's when she was cleaning her son's (Zhuang Yu Chi) blood, Zhuang Shiyang when he stabbed Ruan Xiwen and Yuwen Chang'an and Ruan Xiwen's during their wedding banquet.
Talking about the Wedding Banquet (that turned into the Last Supper) surely is the most heartbreaking scene of this drama. The bittersweet taste still lingers in my mouth and I still can't shake off this disappointment and heavy feeling off my heart everytime I am reminded of how they ended up together but shortly aftet had to experience the most painful and traumatizing way of death (Night of their wedding day). They surely would've been a wonderful couple for sure. Too bad we were not given the liberty to witness it, and I curse Zhuang Shiyang to death for that.
"That day, the warmth I just gained in my life turned into a cold corpse once again." - Zhuang Hanyan's statement witnessing her mother dying in her own arms...
Story - 10, An emotional roller coaster than never never tried to keep the intensity and momentum down a bit the moment it started on Ep 1. The emotion on this drama may seem light but is truly heartbreaking. Every scenes are filled with words and actions meant to kill physically but oftentimes emotionally.
Acting/Cast - 10, I am really happy with the cast, specially Chen Duling! Been seeing her to a lot of dramas I watched all throughout the years and been always wonderding why she's not really that famous yet given how beautiful and good she is in acting. So watching her attain that in this project made me feel happy for her. + I know Xin Yunlai by face but doesn't really know him that much but I am glad for him too. While I have this mixed feeling seeing He Hongshan here. I am quite irritated on her acting ever since I watched her on The Legend of Phoenix. Lol - P.S. Yu Entai and Wen Zhengrong deserved to bag all the acting awards they'll be nominated for portraying their roles in this drama.
Music - 10, Emotionally touching and pensive songs that can make anyone feel lost and melancholic. I was truly moved and touched. Great set of music for sure.
Rewatch Value - 10, This is not even a question at this point. I am not the type of person who likes riding the wave of popularity of dramas but this one genuinely deserves it.
Overall - 10, Everything about this drama is perfect for me. Specially since I am one "Emo" guy. Lol I appreaciate everything on this drama—from the very first episode till the last. I love all the things (Heartbreak, joy, excitement and thrill) it gave me and would surely love to experience it again. Highly recommend!!
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
I feel so bad for Zhuang Hanyan for having to suffer all those traumatic and inhumane experiences growing up; only to experience a more intensified and horrifying events after she went back "home" when all these times, going back means so much to her as it gives her hope to finally feel the warmth and comfort of a family she never really got to experience growing up.
This drama seriously deserved the popularity, all the praises and everything it received. I was utterly speechless on how grave the situation and all the occurences was on the 1st episode and I thought it was just an opening act of how crazy this drama is but soon it shall be lighter...but man! How wrong was I for thinking that way. They placed the intensity and chilling aura on top and never really tried to lower it down even once! Even those romantic and seemingly lighthearted scenes always ended up on a terrifying comfrontation I never really expected at all.
Consisteny on this drama is top-notch. What's more astonishing is their decision to keep the drama's vibe grim and dreadful till the very end! I say, the scriptwriters deserves a whole round of applause for this impressive masterpiece. From ZHYs remarkable first appearance infront of the Zhuang Mansion, to how she stirred some troubles to see everyone's true color and intension towards her really made me realize that she shouldn't be underistimated in any way.
I mean, she should've been buffled that the one who welcomed her was her father's consort whose kindness felt suspiciously dangerous but no she was not! Not to mention the treatment she received from her Mother and Grandmother during her first week on the household—getting refused to meet them + the blatant words her Mother threw at her were like daggers piercing-through-deeper each moment. The emotional burden and torment must have been tough but she carried on and was still able to fend for herself every now and then. Although she fails oftentimes to see through the schemes, what I like about her is that she was always ready for a counter-attack. And at the end of the day, those experiences served as a good reminder that she shouldn't be complacent and should always be alert as the danger lurks around her 24/7.
Additionally, Zhuang Hanyan never schemed to harm her family despite the countless betrayals from them—all she wanted was to give them a warning, a lesson. So It really must be painful for her to see them attack her with all their might to the expense of her life.
"Saying the softest words while doing the doing the most ruthless things." ZHY to ZSY.
The line above etched in my mind for how accurate it was. I say, a well deserved spotlight goes to Zhuang Shiyang (Hanyan's father) for how cunning, cruel, manipulative and ingeniously vile he is. Man should win the MVP & Best in Scheming Award for how seemless his plans were and how great he was in feigning ignorance and portraying this kindest-man-ever role while seemlessly manipulating eveything in the shadows. Man was a shit of a husband and would pass as the shittiest beyond salvation Father that I have ever known in my entire drama watching journey in this lifetime. A malevolent and an evil incarnate person—Purely diabolical! The type of person who doesn't deserve to be a Husband, more so a father. He deserved to be unlove and to suffrt the most painful death there is.
Chemistry between our main leads are actually good. I love how both of them sought one another not for love but for a different purpose yet still ended up together. I also like how it's the male lead who ended up helplessly in love and is always in agony for every expected yet unexpected betrayal from Hanyan. He love her already but still did all the scheming so he's expecting her to be mad but never really expect her to go as far as try killing him every single time. This man is easy but at the same time quite complicated to love. So I was really glad when they started to truly help each other at the end. Specially after Ruan Xi Wen told Hanyan that it is not love and affection that's important in a relationship but TRUST! So it feels nice and fulfilling to witness that they've finally become a couple who have developed mutual understanding and trust towards each other.
Lastly, the trademark of this drama should have been blood-stained Hanfu's. Althrough out the drama, what truly stood out to me are the Hanfu's who's stained by blood—specially Zhou Ruyin's when she was cleaning her son's (Zhuang Yu Chi) blood, Zhuang Shiyang when he stabbed Ruan Xiwen and Yuwen Chang'an and Ruan Xiwen's during their wedding banquet.
Talking about the Wedding Banquet (that turned into the Last Supper) surely is the most heartbreaking scene of this drama. The bittersweet taste still lingers in my mouth and I still can't shake off this disappointment and heavy feeling off my heart everytime I am reminded of how they ended up together but shortly aftet had to experience the most painful and traumatizing way of death (Night of their wedding day). They surely would've been a wonderful couple for sure. Too bad we were not given the liberty to witness it, and I curse Zhuang Shiyang to death for that.
"That day, the warmth I just gained in my life turned into a cold corpse once again." - Zhuang Hanyan's statement witnessing her mother dying in her own arms...
Story - 10, An emotional roller coaster than never never tried to keep the intensity and momentum down a bit the moment it started on Ep 1. The emotion on this drama may seem light but is truly heartbreaking. Every scenes are filled with words and actions meant to kill physically but oftentimes emotionally.
Acting/Cast - 10, I am really happy with the cast, specially Chen Duling! Been seeing her to a lot of dramas I watched all throughout the years and been always wonderding why she's not really that famous yet given how beautiful and good she is in acting. So watching her attain that in this project made me feel happy for her. + I know Xin Yunlai by face but doesn't really know him that much but I am glad for him too. While I have this mixed feeling seeing He Hongshan here. I am quite irritated on her acting ever since I watched her on The Legend of Phoenix. Lol - P.S. Yu Entai and Wen Zhengrong deserved to bag all the acting awards they'll be nominated for portraying their roles in this drama.
Music - 10, Emotionally touching and pensive songs that can make anyone feel lost and melancholic. I was truly moved and touched. Great set of music for sure.
Rewatch Value - 10, This is not even a question at this point. I am not the type of person who likes riding the wave of popularity of dramas but this one genuinely deserves it.
Overall - 10, Everything about this drama is perfect for me. Specially since I am one "Emo" guy. Lol I appreaciate everything on this drama—from the very first episode till the last. I love all the things (Heartbreak, joy, excitement and thrill) it gave me and would surely love to experience it again. Highly recommend!!
IF you find my review helpful please let me know.
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