Michelle Topham

Also, I understand the criticism of the script. In every episode, I've had to rewind to figure out who some people are and what they're trying to explain about the different factions.

Rarely have to do that in Chinese dramas, as I've watched so many of them, I'm used to how they go.

It's a shame as LSS generally turns in excellent performances, but not in this one. She's like nothing more than a pretty statue.

Must admit Leon Zhang has never been one of my favorites, but he's doing a decent job here, if a bit bland.

I think I also dislike both main characters as well as the actors' performances, so that's what's not pulling me in, as I can't empathize with either of them. Maybe if they had different actors portraying them, I would like the characters more?

Again, not a drop yet, although I do have a long way to go :), but disappointed after the first two episodes made this one look like it may be one I'm going to obsess over then EPs 3 and 4 kind of bored me.

Definitely understand it not gaining favor from Chinese viewers.

I'm on EP5, started off loving it and already dislike both the FL and ML. She's as stiff as a board with a one-expression face, and he's just bland.

A real shame, as I had high hopes for this one. The plot is fun and the CGI is nicely done.

Doubt I'll drop it, as I'm enjoying it well enough, but I just wish they had chosen different actors for the leads.

Only two episodes in so far, but this is excellent -- fast-paced, fun, an interesting plot, love the demons (more than the humans :), pretty OP and ED and decent CGI.

My only complaint is my favorite character (and actor) Huo Minghao appeared in it all too briefly. Would have preferred him as the ML as he's a bit insipid so far, but we'll see how it goes.

Will likely binge-watch the rest of the episodes today, as it's so easy to watch.

https://x.com/LeoSigh/status/1917104831501644019

Yep. A lot of Korean actors look very much alike, and the studios hire them because they look a certain way, so I sometimes get confused when I start a new drama if it's the same person from such and such.

And before someone says "You're racist", because there's always an idiot, I lived in Asia for 14 years and even a Thai friend recently asked me "Why do Korean actors all look the same?" :) after she got massively invested in K-dramas, and was also getting confused as to who is who :)

He was brilliant, wasn't he? I was so excited for the drama and then all we got was one episode. It would have been phenomenal, and a lot less predictable, if Yook Sung Jae had been Gang Cheol who possessed Kim Young Kwang.

Again, YSJ doing a great job. Just don't really care for the character like this.

Anyway, still holding out hope it will grab my attention :) But I think two more episodes are my limit and then I'll move on.

Still loving Kill Me Love Me, plan to start Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty tonight and, have almost finished Who Rules the World, which I love, and I'm looking forward to Love in Pavilion starting tomorrow, so I won't starve :)

Yawn. I'm having bad luck with dramas lately. Another episode of this and, if it doesn't become more interesting, it will be a drop.

Plus, I don't like Bona in this at all. Her acting skills have improved, but she still has a long way to go. Needs to work on her facial expressions mostly. She looks the same in every scene. Faced by a tiger, looks vacantly at it. Attacked by an Eight-feet Spirit looks like she doesn't care.

And I preferred Kim Young Kwang as Gang Cheol. Yook Sung Jae is doing a great job now he's not Mr. Boring, but I still wish they had kept KYK.

All in all, I watched Ep 4 on double speed and was still bored stiff. Meh.

It's easy to see why the rating is dropping too.

I'm still struggling with The Untamed (currently have it on hold) although that could be because it's been so long since I started it I'm rewatching the first 18 episodes and they're very draggy -- well, duh, when I've already seen them :) - But even then, I think it's better produced than Word of Honor.

And again, I didn't hate Word of Honor as I did finish it, and I loved the lead actors, but no I'm not surprised you dropped it.

Also, I think, as much as I love C-dramas, even more than K-dramas to some extent, I do struggle with some of them because they're just so damned long!! (I have the attention span of a flea on cocaine :)

If they could ever cut more of them down to 24 episodes or less, and I think I would enjoy all of them even more as the story doesn't get so elongated just to fill the time slots.

No, I want him to look like not a mechanical device put together by the folks in Production Room 43 with the equivalent of 64 dollars and a bit of string.

Anyway, done now. You're just annoying.

Kim Jae Wook is one of Korea's most gifted actors. He always chooses interesting roles, and his roles in which he plays someone psychotic are as good as any Oscar-winner. Brilliant in Butterfly Sleep as well.

Agree on Bona somewhat -- she's MUCH improved from previous dramas as she was almost unwatchable in Your House Helper, so I can't give her awful grades, but she still has the same expression through almost every scene.

Hopefully she will keep on improving. Don't hate her in this though. She's doing a decent job.

As if they're actual ghosts and not people in obviously bad make-up and costumes. Isn't that obvious?

But these look like something out of the 1970s.

And it's not as if Korean production companies can't create authentic looking ghosts. Several K-dramas have done some fabulous work with ghosts/spirits in the past, but this is heavy handed and poorly done.

A shame as everything else is produced so well but every time one of these things appears (the Eight-feet Spirit grabbing Yun Gap, obviously a mechanicalized arm -- looked so ridiculous, I laughed) they take you right out of the immersion of the drama as they're so amateurish.

Not remotely scary. Ghosts are obviously just a dude in heavy make up so that spoils the horror. Still really worth watching tho. Performances are superb from the lead actors (a bit of over-acting from some of the support cast but...), and the child actor who plays the prince is phenomenal.

Agree. Comedy is ruining a lot of what would be creepy, but it's all just turned into humor.

Still enjoying it, but it would have been even better without the slapstick.

The ghosts/spirits in this are laughably bad -- so bad, the person/people who created them should never work in K-drama again, as it's so obvious every single one of them is a B-actor in a costume.

But... the drama itself is excellent. Bona is doing a brilliant job, and Yook Sung Jae should win awards for his performance if it continues as it has been.

Enjoying this immensely. Just wish they'd put more effort/money into the spirits.

Child actor is incredible. He continues like that, he has an amazing career ahead of him.

No, I think I'll move on. I have a huge backlog of things I want to watch, so there's not much point watching this now I know what happens.

And that's why the SPOILER section is there for a reason because time after time someone sharing 2 brain cells with 8 other people spoils a drama for everyone else.

Dropped. Some idiot below just destroyed the ending and, honestly, not much point slogging through another 20 episodes for that. Thanks a lot. Moron.

SPOILER - FOR EFFS SAKE. WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU

BTW, really happy to see Hei Zi in a support role in this (the Reunion Innkeeper). He is always in support or guest roles (fabulous in In Blossom), but is a standout in every drama he is in.

An absolutely wonderful character actor that seems to be popping up in more and more lately. (Next one is Tales of Dark River, which if it's anything like the donghua, will be epic).