K-Drama 
At least I finished it ...
The actors were great and the characters were ok ... chemistry between FL and ML was nice ... but why ... why do they have to regurgitate the same old, same old story?The first few episodes were funny but then I realized that I have seen this series, over and over again. Nothing new, nothing different, just the same. I managed to finish this (only because I didn't want another unfinished show) at 2x speed and 10 seconds fast forward. Rated as high as I did because of the actors.
OST ... OK
Rewatchable ... definitely not.
Actors ... great
Characters ... OK
Nothing else to say really.
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This review may contain spoilers
This was good
It was light and went against the typical political dramas. It was not swallowed up by unnecessary plot twists ... however .......I believe the show should have been 30 episodes or even less.
The FLs story was fascinating and the focus at the beginning was great to watch, I was excited to see where she would go as her initial revenge/skills were slowly achieved and presented to us as an audience ... but it went away ... disappeared.
Even though I did not like the MLs response to finding out the ‘big secret’, I like the FL and MLs reaction and eventual resolution. The scenes on the mountain and finding out about the horrors Ye Li had to endure could have been pushed a little further and deeper, but I liked it.
The MLs role as a whole was a little lacking though; I think all those extra episodes would have been a great opportunity to show us more of his struggles and feelings I wanted to see more emotion, he went from a great warrior to being wheelchair bound, he was made to marry and was looked down upon ...... such a shame we were robbed of that story.
All the side characters were fine, but their stories were lacking depth and seemed more like episode fillers. Their end game was also flat and seemed bittersweet ... yet it wasn't?
Ye Li family seemed to get away with murder ... hmmm. Where did they go ... Did I miss something?
I guess Mo Jing Li / Prince Li was a 2nd ML? the closest thing to it anyway ... but where was his story? His reason for doing what he was doing ... was that it? His drive, his past, his mental state, ... to escape and lead so many men ... to become capable of doing those things yet fail so miserably ... It would have been nice, as an audience to go through that with him. The actor did such a great job, but I feel like he was not given the opportunity to show his acting ability.
For some reason the FL and ML seemed absent, in the literal sense; so much screen time was given to side characters.
The OST was hidden in the background of the show, in some scenes it did eventually show up, and that was nice. All in all, it was OK, was it re-watchable ... not so sure.
EDIT: I am about to watch this for the 3rd time ....................................
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Very good
This was a wild ride. There was a lot happening and a lot of information, so it was never boring. The characters were superb and the cinematography was lovely to watch.The music was great and placed well within the scenes.
The only downside was that it was so short. I would have loved to see the story in more depth and the relationships develop at a slower pace. This is the second time that I have watched this and found it just as good,
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Captivating
I really enjoyed this. Action and intrigue. The action scenes are amazing; Bai Jing Ting is perfect for this role and looks stunning through the fight scenes. I did not like the FL though. I am sure it is just the way the character is written but I found she had very little emotion and she seemed slow, actions and speech, like she was under water the whole time. I also did not feel any chemistry between the two. The comedy was an unexpected bonus though. With all the negatives, the plot and ML made me score this quite high.Was this review helpful to you?
A beautiful story of passion and sacrifice.
Actors ... Dynamic. Each actor gave their all.Chemistry ... Almost unbearably good.
Characters ... Deeply and perfectly flawed.
Story/plot ... Intriguing and heartbreaking.
Quality ... Rich.
What a beautiful, heartfelt story. Tells a tale of artistry at its highest with integrity and trust. Passion that will always come with competitiveness, selfishness, and drive that goes beyond reason. Beautiful and skillfully written and acted. Wealth, talent and heart, the sacrifice of love. Perfection.
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This was a story of strength, friendship, family, and tragedy.
Wow, this was hard to watch. The writer knew what they were doing when they wrote such a heartbreaking story; The direction was brilliant, and the performance was heart, soul, and talent.Cast ... So much talent and courage, it is to be commended.
Characters ... Drawn perfectly. Deep, dark. brutal, heartfelt performances. The little girl was haunting.
I was shaking when this show finished. So many emotions, so many parallels, made this hard to review as I could not help but see what we, personally, have been going through. These past several years I wish I was as strong as the characters in this film. Not caused by an evil act but a sickness ... yet the aftermath was close, so very, very close.
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WOW what a beautifully created drama. Agonizing, dark yet beautiful, frustrating, and real.
This drama hurt to watch. During the entire film I was on edge, my emotions were ever changing. At the completion of this film, I felt sick, sore from holding my breath and sat in silent contemplation.A parent watches, wonders, worries about their child being bullied ... it's real and for most parents it is their worst nightmare. I don't know what I would do but seeing these young children going through that, with no parental support ... really breaks my heart.
Actors ... Gave everything and put their soles into their performance.
Characters ... Words cannot describe, fully, the depth and courage that was shown.
Plot/Story ... Terrifying. The producers/Directors etc. did this story justice. It was a masterpiece.
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This was OK. It was light and fluffy.
No depth or big plot points, but it was to be expected. The comedy was nice. If my mood was different, I may have enjoyed it more, but it was OK. This was typical for a show with many branches. To keep the audience interested and not feel frustrated with multiple stories, they did well.Actors ... Lovely.
Characters ... Sweet but had little depth.
Chemistry ... Not really.
Production Quality ... Perfect.
I did come away with an odd feeling ... but I think it was a 'me thing'.
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This was fun. I enjoyed everything about this.
It was gritty and emotionally charged. Because this was a movie, we were given just enough backstory to fill in any gaps and still be entertaining.Actors ... Did this film justice.
Characters ... Dark and compelling giving each character great depth.
Storyline/Concept/Plot ... I enjoy movies because they have 1 plot point and stick to it. It ticked all the boxes. Gave enough information, didn't throw in any unnecessary scenes and was able to hold the audience's attention.
Fight scenes ... Brutal but nice to watch.
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I really enjoyed this.
I always find these types of shows frustrating and emotional, but I can't help but watch them.Actors ... They did such an amazing job. They showed grit and gave their characters life.
Characters ... Deep enough to suit this type of show and to pull the audience in.
Story ... Although it was a little over the top, the story was straightforward. Because this was a movie, the resolutions were quick which was satisfying to watch.
Action/Fight Scenes ... Amazing,
Sound/Lighting/Sets ... It was well done. The scenes blended nicely and it was easy to immerse yourself in the story. The sets were realistic and gave credence to the story.
Re-watchable ... I think so.
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Just not my cup of tea.
This felt more like a stage play (live theatrical performance). It had very few locations/set pieces, and they were very cheap, obviously fake. It was boring. There was no substance, no deep connections, and I had to watch a lot of this at 2X speed. This show is what it is; it was a slapstick comedy with very little substance. If that is what you like, then this is the show for you. If not, watch it out of curiosity, but you may come out a little disappointed.Cast ... They acted very over the top (I am assuming this was just the style of show).
Characters ... Absolutely no depth and I felt nothing and had no connection with any of them. Little to no romance/chemistry.
OST ... It was obscure, I can't even remember.
Set design/quality of props etc. ... Poor, very, very poor.
CGI ... So bad it was funny.
Storyline ... This show was so poorly written that the story was secondary to the actors. This is something I very rarely come across which made it hard to enjoy.
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I enjoyed this at its outer layer. The main cast elevated this show past its obvious flaws.
Storyline/Plot ... Was OK. I actually enjoyed the story and that was one of the main reasons I continued to watch it. The ending was a bit off for me and it was lacking some clarity. I cannot quite put my finger on why.Cast ... Star studded but I think they were let down by poor direction and low-quality production. Some of the acting ... not that great (especially the side characters and extras). If not for Luo Yun Xi, I may not have watched this.
Characters ... They were very basic. Likeable enough but not that deep. Holding affection and feeling empathy for most characters and situations was difficult.
Cinematography/sets etc. ... The costumes were exquisite but I think that is where most of the budget went. I found makeup, prosthetics, and props were lacking. Some sets looked very low quality and fake while others looked basic.
Sound/CGI etc. ... Sound was OK, but the lighting was bad. I am not sure if it was purposeful. Having blown out lighting in a room that should be lit by candlelight ... bad. The coloring was also bland. I think this show would have looked better with deep color grading and darker undertones. CGI was horrible but because this show seemed like a low-budget series, you just accepted it.
Chemistry ... There was lovely chemistry with the main cast but sometimes (a lot of the time) it was too much. It was as if the Director told every single cast member to look longingly at each other, regardless of who/what/where and they had to do it for an extended amount of time. ... It was very awkward to watch.
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What a beautiful, heartfelt, and heart wrenching story.
I watched this for Park Ji Hoon, and I loved it because of him. He is an amazing actor, and his performances can stir your soul.The story itself ... Historical drama ... so I already knew where it was going and how it would make me feel. I had to grit my teeth because I knew, I knew, and I scoffed at my own stubbornness. I will forever remember those eyes and that character. I can do nothing but shake my head and sigh and be grateful this was not a series ... There is only so much I can take.
The cast was amazing and their acting was on point. The chemistry was lovely to watch.
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Started great .. Nonsensical, irrational, and frustratingly disappointing.
I watched this for the second time ONLY because a streamer happened to have it on their playlist. It is not worth rewatching alone. I will be honest, I really enjoyed the start, and I would have loved to have seen the earlier episodes in more depth. Sadly, the ending really, REALLY, let this show down. So much potential, So many great characters, such a good story premise so why? ... Why did they do that? ... Why?Not really much else to say. The actors were great though.
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50% Infuriating 50% Good
Cast ... They were very good.Characters ... Most were good.
Quality/sound etc. ... Overall, good.
Storyline ... Heartbreaking.
I got so angry watching this. It may be a personal issue as my own experience, my empathy/emotions, overtook my ability to enjoy the first half of this show. The FL and her families' reactions and the way they delt with the situation felt all too real.
The FL. I thought she was fantastic. I believed her character and empathized with her. I was impressed by how strong she was. I would not be as strong and resolute, but her character was believable. The numbness and utter despair were heartbreaking to watch. I was impressed by her mental aptitude.
The ML. Infuriating. He was written as an intelligent, diligent and focused character, yet he was nonsensical. He and his family were unashamed, irresponsibly absentminded, and selfish. I wonder if my personal preference was what made me finish this show. I enjoyed him visually and found his chemistry with the FL intriguing. That was very shallow, and I am upset (with myself) that was what made me continue to watch. I did find his personal story heartbreaking, so I felt some empathy towards him, but it was sadly overshadowed.
The other characters were written well. I liked their realistic, not overly dramatic way of dealing with certain situations. Some side stories and characters seemed unnecessary.
If the writer wanted me to feel anger and hatred, that was successful, but I think they pushed it too far and for too long. It was almost irredeemable and as I said, my female brain overtook my judgment.
But, overall, I enjoyed the ending and felt satisfied.
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