Came for the romcom, stayed for the sobbing/rollercoaster but not disappointed at all
TLDR; The writing is amazing in this show, period. This show proves that fl and tbh all the female characters don't have to be physically strong to be powerful and cause change in others. Every moment between the leads makes me smile until my cheeks hurt,, like I'm getting diabetes bc of how sweet everyone is to each other. It's def a slow romance, but I enjoy those types bc you rlly get to see character development as they get to know each other more. This show probs has the fewest amt of annoying romcom tropes I've seen yet (2nd love interests, love at first sight, long-ass misunderstandings, etc), and when they do pop up, they def do it in a unique way that's not cringe-worthy. Acting is amazing, esp when there are emotional moments, and it feels real. I love the music, and there are some pieces that I would listen on repeat. From the beginning, these characters have grown a lot, and it's sad to see this series end. I wouldn't be too upset if there was a S2.Story: despite the genre, i really do believe the 2 leads start the show hating each other, so it's interesting to see how their dynamics change throughout the show. They do make the ml actually hateable at times instead of just being a pretty boy and getting his way all the time, which is a nice change of pace and kinda uncommon with this type of plot. The writing is honestly really good bc the sentimental moments feel natural and flow well with the characters. The misunderstandings are not frustrating and they're actually funny instead of petty drama. tbh the tone of the story made me doubt abt the romcom aspect of it, but the comedic timing is golden each time. I will say, theres a lot of info to parse if youre following the political affairs, and sometimes its hard to know who is who if youre not paying attention (i watched the first half a second time, since eps were still airing to fully understand the name drops so i could binge watch the last 10 eps haha). btw the last like 10 eps are a fucking rollercoaster..
Acting/Cast: bro these tears aren't fake. I love her facial expressions omg,, Honestly might be my fav fl of all the shows I've watched. There are some moments where I'm like "oh shit she really just did that" and that makes her more endearing. Even tho she doesn't have military prowess, she still manages to girlboss her way around with her intelligence and cunning with just as much flair. This show makes you have an emotional connection w/ each of the characters (even minor ones), and I genuinely cried at some parts. Everyone's smiles are so contagious and natural,, The writing of the "evil" ppl rlly gives them depth, and you realize they're also human, and the reasons they did smth were out of oppression, although how they managed that wasn't exactly justifiable. Also, the amt of communication between the characters and the heartfelt conversations are also one of the main reasons why this show is so good.
Music: A lot of the music is super catchy, and the lyrics are so beautiful and fitting to the story and characters.
Rewatch value: I generally don't rewatch shows, but this one might be the highest on my list just bc there are a lot of developments that foreshadow what happens in other eps.
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kinda mid but gets better at the end
Subs are a lot better, although timing is still a bit off if you’re watching the one on yt. This season feels like a filler season idk. Okay I think the ending ALMOST redeems the whole season. One thing I do like about S3-5 is the brutal realities of life and the life lessons that are expressed in this show.TL;DR: story seems rushed, but it gets a lot better in the last 5 eps. Acting is phenomenal as always, music is around the same, and rewatch value is probably a one-and-done for me.
Story: Some parts feel rushed, and some new characters are suddenly pushed in without like any intro/context. Like the relationship between characters is there but we don’t even know their names yet? Also Lucy’s romance is so confusing to me like I don’t get why they did some things a certain way, and it just doesn’t seem coherent to me. Also they kinda just left it at that and never brought it up again lol. They did not need to drag the redemption arc that much tho imo, but we got there ig. The ending is pretty open-ended, but idk if they're going to make any more seasons.
Acting/Cast: There’s a lot of emotional moments that are duly conveyed in the acting. Acting is good as always.
Music: Much of the music is from past seasons, and there are some new ones, but nothing to be amazed abt.
Rewatch value: Even though the ending is good, I don't think I'd wanna go through all this just for it. I can just watch the last eps and be done w/ it lol.
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a nice spin on a lot of tropes
First impressions: I just looked at the cast section, and the screenwriter and director are both female, which in hindsight makes sense bc there are a lot of feminist ideals that the FL talks abt. There are a lot of callbacks to previous scenes, and I love it when shows do that. Most of the scenes are done on location, so there are so many breathtaking backgrounds, and you can tell they have a high budget too bc the wardrobe and makeup ppl went all out.TLDR; for me, the most important part of this show is the life lessons it teaches. The story is mostly pretty realistic when it comes to how they handle certain situations. Acting seems kinda forced at times. The only character whose acting seems the most natural is Xue Chen's errand boy. The intro and outro songs are really catchy, and they love using them in the scenes. It's more modern-style, and sometimes they'll use pop elements in there for some reason. For me, it's a one-and-done, but don't let it downplay the story and lessons of the show.
Story: There's a lot of role reversal tropes that are pretty well executed. There are a lot of misunderstandings, but for the most part, it's not overly dramatic and it usually gets resolved pretty quickly, and the characters aren't dumb and actually use their brain. There were a lot more life lessons than I thought it would have. As for the mystery, it doesn't really start picking up until the tail end of the show. In terms of comedy, it definitely plays a lot with romcom tropes that are quite enjoyable.
Acting/Cast: Seems a bit unnatural a lot of the times, idk why. Love the writing of the characters tho. The dynamics between the characters are pretty mature, and I love how they talk about their relationships. They have a lot of reflection in their actions that I don't see in most cdramas.
Music: Intro and outro songs are catchy, with the bgm using more modern elements.
Rewatch value: One-and-done for me, although I enjoyed the character dynamics and morals of the show.
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better than last season, that's for sure
Subs are bugged if you watch the one on yt. The timing is really off so much so that sometimes it skips some lines. It's slow at first but picks up during the last half of the show. This season focuses more on the relationships between the characters, and I'd argue their dynamics are just as good as the original cast. The writing is a definite improvement to last season's. Acting is good as always, music is pretty catchy, and rewatch value is better than last season's fs.Story: There wasn’t much romance to begin with last season, but this time, it focuses more on their love interests and less on HongHong’s shortcomings. Honestly, I quite like the relationships. Each one has different dynamics and have their own charm to it. Some of them try to sort out their problems as adults and misunderstandings aren’t exaggerated. I’d go as far to say that the relationship dynamics are as good as the original’s. The writing is significantly better, as they touch on topics that are a little too real as an adult.
Acting/Cast: Really good, especially the moments where they're supposed to be fuming, they really capture that feeling.
Music: I think they rendition one of the original season’s music, which is nice. The new ones are still pretty catchy.
Rewatch value: personally I think this is a one-and-done, but fs better than last season.
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good characters, amazing music
Just a foreword, the actor for Wei Ya Nei is different but is still spot-on with the original's mannerisms and expressions, so I don't mind it. Also, a possible reason why they changed it was the love interest, which seems weird if it was done with the original since she is clearly a lot younger. With the new actor, I feel like the students are actually supposed to be teens and not adults lol. Also if you're watching on yt the eng dub isn't amazing and the subs stop starting at the 15th ep but reappear and disappear sporadically. I've posted my side-rant in the comments; the spoiler is at the very end.TLDR; There is a definite budget increase, which is evident based on the music and the backgrounds/more CGI and green screen backdrops. Story is a bit better in part because they make some bold choices, and although the acting of the main characters is similar to the original, the supporting characters make it more interesting. Music is a definite upgrade from the original. It's a lot shorter than the original, but honestly I don't know if I want to watch it again because there are some heartbreaking moments I don't want to relive. I go into Yuan Hao's character in the comments of this post (spoilers!).
Story: It's a bit more convoluted than S1 imo. I think the main reason for the lower ratings on S2 is that there are a lot of references to Chinese mythology/folklore that I'm not familiar with and that could also be lost in translation. I'm rolling with the punches like Wei Ya Nei fr. Even though the comedy in the original is well executed, I think they improve it esp when they stop the music right before it swells to climax to deliver the bit; I love it when shows do that 😆. Can I just say though, Yuan Hao is such a good villain. They make some bold choices that compensate for the lack of good eng subs.
Acting/Cast: Honestly I don't think much has changed and the acting is still the same to me. I think most people feel that it has improved just because there's more opportunity for them to act more emotional moments. I will say the new characters are amazing.
Music: A definite improvement to S1, especially with the orchestral renditions of the originals. I love it when games/shows slightly change the main theme based on the mood. Of course, they also use the original music, which is refreshing. Honestly, I could listen to the whole track multiple times and not get bored of it.
Rewatch value: Although it's shorter, I don't think I could meet new characters with hindsight, but that's just me. Also, the eng subs aren't great, esp near the end.
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Really good acting and music
Story: Especially at the beginning, some parts of the story are being thrown at you, but it does get better throughout. Honestly, some parts were confusing, mainly because they introduce characters by name before you see what the character looks like or their personality (but could also be translation errors). The dynamics between the characters are very well-written, and although some misunderstandings change the course of their relationship they end up working it out eventually. Also made me realize how psychologically torturing being an assassin is.Acting: Exceptional especially for the antagonist and protagonist but honestly every actor/actress did amazing, including the parts where the characters are desperate and suffering. You can feel the emotion in their voice. Even when there isn't anything verbal going on. In particular, the main characters' facial expressions and how they move still give the scene weight to it.
Music: A lot of the OST music I would listen to on repeat, particularly the intro song. And I know a lot of people love it for the same reasons I do. It fits the relationships between the characters in the story and the cadence of the singer really describes the emotion of the song. They do milk it a lot in the episodes but it is a moving song so, it's not as annoying as you would think..
Rewatch: I generally don't rewatch shows unless they are amazing shows/mystery genre. I feel like this show is a one-and-done situation, but I did enjoy it while it lasted.
TLDR; Story is a bit confusing at first but it flows throughout the show. Acting is phenomenal and is amazing a portraying emotion even when they aren't talking. Music is beautiful and melancholy. Most likely won't rewatch it, but it was an interesting experience.
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Personally, not very picky about shows
Honestly at first, I was a bit skeptical because the plot summary makes the show sound a bit bland. But it was a lot different from the mystery genre I'm used to that includes a murder, and they try to figure out who did it etc. This one is very different and then the ending is very conclusive, although we never figure out why or how they got into the time loop.For story: Like I said, it is very creative in how they tell a mystery using a time loop. It might sound repetitive, but every loop is a little bit different from the last when they get more information to figure out how to fix the time loop. It also involves a lot of perspective on the accused side of how they deal with things and process sticky situations. As for romance, it's a little slow but there are some bite-sized romance stuffed in there, and it's not overly dramatic/cheesy.
Acting: AMAZING!! The actors definitely know what they're doing and they portray every emotion and personality perfectly. I comment on the acting a lot for the episode reviews lol.
OST: I don't know why but I especially love the ending song because it kind of fits with the main characters' relationship but also the other relationship too (that you'll see if you watch this). The singer also did a phenomenal job of singing the emotions of the song.
Rewatch: Usually, I don't rewatch things unless they're really good but for mysteries I like to watch them again to see the little details I didn't catch the first time because I know what happens.
TL;DR Amazing show with a spin on the mystery genre with slow but sweet build-up of romance and the ending has good closure on all the characters that leaves a little bittersweet feeling when you watch a good show.
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just another story tbh
TLDR; There are quite a few plot holes or just due to lazy writing/not fully explained lore, but some of the setup was planted (lol) at the very beginning, so it's redeemable. A lot of the acting seemed a bit unnatural, and there were a lot of moments I expected to cry at but didn’t. Music is pretty good. Personally, this didn’t make much of an impression on me, so one and done for me.Story: I love the side romances the most tbh. I just think the main ones are a little too trope-y. If I had to choose between first and second pair, I think I prefer the second couple better. Even though their story isn't particularly special, somehow it's better than the main pair (possibly bc the confession is so early). A lot of the scenes are like the fl screaming, but not doing anything....And the plot point where something happens to ml, and it gets reversed was always a dumb plot line to me. I will say, this is an exception tho just bc it sets up the main plot. There's also a def plothole regarding them not getting persued after they're under house arrest. I feel like if their kids are missing for more than a year, the ppl above would be panicking and send ppl over to search but whatever. Also, misunderstandings,, really?? I hate the trope where they try to push each other away to keep them "safe" even though they don't actually hate each other. At least the fls aren't dumb and actually use their brain. I will say that the dynamic between DLJ and LGYT is quite unique, and I wish more shows had that. Wow, ppl admitting their mistakes?? Literally happens on the last ep tho, which is..
Acting/Cast: tbh, I've seen better acting. Not sure if it's bc it's dubbed over, but I feel like it could be better.. I can't tell if the fl's acting is so good that it makes me uncomfortable, or if it's bad bc when she's crying all she does is scream, which idk kinda pmo for some reason. Usually when there are sentimental scenes, and the actors start crying, I do too but for some reason here, I don't as much. I'm especially a sucker for sibling relationships, and this one shouldn't be an exception. ig I just don't feel as much a connection with the characters. All that aside, is it bad that the relationship between ZW and DLJ has the most chemistry??
Music: I quite enjoy the music. Some of the bg music are renditions of the main theme.
Rewatch value: A one and done for me.
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i'm not crying,, you are....
TLDR; A similar one I would recommend would be Meeting You, which is also a coming-of-age story. I feel like this one is more relatable, though, but still worth a watch! This show gives me nostalgia in a bittersweet way, and lowkey, this genre is my guilty pleasure. It helps me detract from being an adult with adult responsibilities for a while and just enjoy a wholesome show. There are a lot of eps where I'll just tear up a lil for something so simple, but ig it's just the nostalgia hitting and mayhaps I relate a little too much. Both first and second couples have amazing chemistry. For the most part acting was pretty good. Some of the acting, esp with fl seemed a little too animated imo, but I do understand that they basically start as teens. But she still retained that even as an adult, which idk maybe that's just her personality? Regardless, minor detail. Music lyrics are nice, and some of the songs are catchy. Rewatch value is pretty high since it's short and it's a coming-of-age story, so plenty of character development.Story: I didn't think it was possible to be happy and sad in the same episode, but here we are. I cried a lot ngl.. There is a small misunderstanding, which made me feel bad for the characters involved (I teared up a lil), but somehow, it didn't feel annoying to watch. The excursions w/o parental supervision would not fly in America. Why are there so many lol. I feel like half of the show was the actors having fun (amusement park, beach, music festival, camping, karaoke, etc.) I'm lowkey living vicariously thru them bc I never really got to experience the full high school experience bc of covid.. It's so amazing to have a friend group that supports you and ppl who care for you unconditionally.. These kids are surprisingly mature for their age. They're so supportive of each other, esp towards their love interests. The confessions are so sweet ughh. The second couple is also really adorable. Also, the video log is so adorable and a nice addition that helps with the narrative. I love it when they do full circle moments, and this show is full of them.
Acting/Cast: It's a young adult drama, so of course there's going to be awkward/puppy love moments, but they don't feel cringy. If I had a nickel for every time someone cleared their throat, I'd be rich. It's kinda crazy how many times it happens lol. I think it's funny/adorable though. All the main characters kinda look their age, which is nice (aside from the height lol). The second ml is so sweet, like he doesn't interfere but instead helps, even though it's one-sided. I found it kinda strange that fl's voice remained the same, even as a college graduate, and the whole group didn't really change their hairstyles, but that's just me being nitpicky haha
Music: I think the intro and outro songs are supposed to complement each other, which is really cute.
Rewatch value: tbh I've been watching shows that are 30-40 eps long, so a short one is nice once and a while. Also, it's much easier to binge lol. Def worth a rewatch.
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Came from TTEOTM, was not disappointed
TLDR; It's a pretty standard love story, but that doesn't detract from the chemistry between the main leads. It also made me feel a bit bittersweet once I got to the last ep. The acting is so natural that I feel like some parts were improvised and just came from the actors joking with each other. The comedy is also funny af. The songs aren't too bad, and bg music is nice. Rewatch value is kinda low just bc it is not terribly unique, but good as a comfort show, esp when coping from TTEOTW.Story: I'm sorry, what was that about a TEAR ALLERGY?? Apparently it exists, but it's extremely rare. I'm sorry, I really thought it was made up 🫢 my bad. Not sure why she doesn't have those pocket tissues on hand since it's so serious. I forgot how much obvious product placement is in modern cdramas lol. There are misunderstandings, but they're so funny I couldn't be bothered (looking at you TTEOTW)..Rivalry is pretty interesting. Sure, sometimes it's petty, but it's not annoying. First time I've seen a misunderstanding, and the person in the dark directly addresses why they felt that way towards their love interest, and the other person apologizes! Also, the characters are pretty smart, and there is a slight mystery aspect. It's also extremely satisfying when the main villain gets taken down. The ending made me cry, but in a good way..
Acting/Cast: Still loving Bai Lu's facial expressions lol. I also came from TTEOTM and spotted the actor who played YXW's older brother like the gang's here (not really). I feel like some parts are improvised, which shows the chemistry between the actors.
Music: A lot of the songs are sung in English, so there's an accent, but the lyrics are still nice, and it's not difficult to listen to. Bg music is nice.
Rewatch value: If I were to rewatch it, it would probably be for the chemistry between the main leads.
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grab your tissues bc this is a tragic love story (with 3 arcs!)
First impressions: Tbh I initially watched this bc of Cheng Duling haha. Intro is actually hella fire holy and the costuming is amazing as well. This show has the most cgi and special effects I've seen.TLDR; The shows’s strongest trait is def the costuming/makeup and special visual effects. Everyone is rocking the eyeliner, even the masc characters which is fire imo. I wasn't expecting much based on synopsis, but it was not a letdown (for the romcom). There's no option for set design, but I see you set designers and your work was amazing. Also costuming and makeup hello?? Why does everyone look good esp in black 😭. Everything is so on-theme--music, set, costuming and makeup--during the dream arc I was actually stunned at how well it was I had to write abt it haha. In terms of romance (which is what I watch for), there are misunderstandings (which I hate) as a result of poor communication, but the characters aren't dumb or try to get back at the other bc of an argument, which does redeem it a little bit. And the side romances are also really sweet. Hot take but, the story isn't as strong as the romance, as there's some logic that just doesn't quite sit right with me/makes sense to me, but it was still enjoyable. Everyone says ep 36 is the true ending, and that’s bc it's def not for the faint of heart. If you want a happy ending that should be the last ep. Acting is amazing, and there are a lot of subtle facial expressions in the slight twitches of the eyebrow/mouth that make it seem natural. There is a wide variety of songs and bg pieces. The lyrics are also quite fitting to the story and have callbacks to what happens. I initially did have more reason to rewatch it but after the ending, it kinda broke me a bit.
Story: The "evil" character is truly nuanced. The writers did an amazing job fleshing out this character. It really drives the impact of perspective in determining who's really evil or not. It was more like he was pushed to act the way he did rather than just bc he's "evil." Okay, the one thing I hated was the misunderstandings esp from the dream arc and you know I hate that type of shit where they're pushing the other away bc they don't want them to get hurt even though what you're doing is HURTING THEM ANYWAY like?? urgghh surely there’s a better way to create conflict? There are mushy parts, but instead of being cringy, they're rather sweet. There's a part after the Bo're dream arc that I didn't like, but in hindsight, it does set up some things that make sense later. And the last arc does redeem p much everything that happened. Some of the logic seems flawed and kinda just written in there just bc it creates conflict, which is more prominent near the end starting on ep 37. I also got lost w/ the lore at that point and was confused on where the plot was going. All things considered, the ending isn't all that bad, it's just bittersweet and not the happily ever after everyone wants, but it def gave me lots of feels. There’s also some loose endings not addressed that are probably addressed in the book, but they’re not that major.
Acting/Cast: I love the fl's facial expressions esp during the awkward moments. The fl lead is actually the one taunting (in a playful way) the ml, which I quite enjoy. Pian Ran is the best right-wing woman--spirit(?) I've seen so far like she's literally her bestie fr. Extra props to main leads bc even tho they play diff characters, there are subtle differences that distinguish from their different roles. There's def lots of chemistry between the main leads (apparently the same main actors costar in Love Is Sweet haha). Tan Taijin's behavior after a certain point in the story really makes me guess what's real and what's just faking, but ig that's just good acting.
Music: I haven't really paid attention to the bg music, but I noticed when they went into the serpent's dreams the music changes esp in the underwater area. And it actually sounds water-y if that makes sense, which is super cool.
Rewatch value: Def worth a rewatch for the romance, although it is certainly a committment since each ep is the length of a short film, and some are more than an hour long. If I did rewatch it would probs be for the romance and costuming/makeup, but unlikely since a lot happens that I don't know if I want to go thru all that again.
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Better than last season but probs bc of better costuming
First impressions: Wow very strong start; I didn't know the emperor was capable of running/looking panicked. Most of the lead actors are the same and also the important side characters, but it’s also been like 3-4 years since the last season so understandable they couldn’t get all the original actors.TLDR; Can I be honest? I think this season's a whole lot better than S1. Last season I kept watching bc of the plot twists and comedy, but idk, I guess the comedy here is on a whole other level. And maybe bc the costuming is higher budget. It rlly calls out a lot of society's faults. Not in a cheesy way but realistically that makes the audience ashamed bc of it. Also 👏character development 👏. On another note, this was in the first season too, but you can never tell which side the characters are on bc of all the plot twists that keep you on your feet. Acting is amazing as always. Music is also enjoyable. Personally, this is a one time watch but it was fun while it lasted.
Story: There are a lot of lessons to take away from the show (corruption, etc.) that in a different show would seem too idealistic, but somehow it doesn't always feel that way. This show doesn't always use the plot armor card, and even when they do, it's usually bc they plant seeds beforehand instead of moments before it's revealed, which still isn’t amazing but at least it’s not a lazy bomb drop. I do have a slight nitpick tho abt Lin Waner and Fan Xian’s relationship (idr if this was called out in the last season regarding FX’s dad but if not disregard the rest of this paragraph). If FX really is the emperor’s son then wouldn’t they be cousins?? And that’s kinda weird like I know Waner is an illegitimate daughter, but the emperor is technically her uncle. And you could argue that Liu Yunrui (her mom) is not blood related so like an in-law to the emperor, but the princes call her 姑姑, which is paternal aunt sooo the emperor and her mom are blood related.. And the princes regard Waner as a sister so like?? Like I think they’re cute, but idk I’m kinda conflicted lmao
Acting/Cast: I love how instead of getting angry all the time, most conversations are just snarky comments abt the other person lol. The side charaxters are so loveable as well.
Music: I love how they still kept most of the music from last season. I initially thought the intro was sung by Fei Yuqing bc of the vibrato, but it was still Li Jian lol. Still good regardless.
Rewatch value: This is a one-and-done for me. There just isn’t a lot of small clues than last season imo that’s worth a rewatch
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is this what they call an “isekai”—except not that much, admittedly
TLDR; The cinematography is amazing, and for the most part, the transitions are so smooth. I watch for the romcom, so this one had spotty rom parts but definitely didn't lack on the com. So many plot twists I almost forget this was a story within another story. What a cliffhanger tho.. Acting is amazing, and even the minor characters have phenomenal performances. Music is pleasant to listen to, although bgm doesn’t always use more traditional instruments since it’s like an “informal” historical drama (you’ll see what I mean in the first ep). Rewatch value is one-and-done for me just bc it’s p long, but still amazing nonetheless.Story: This is the most chillest emperor I've seen in a drama, but that's also probably bc this show is more lighthearted than others. There are a ton of funny peak moments and interactions between characters that somehow fits into the dramatic/serious scenes. Something I've noticed that I haven't seen in other mystery-type shows is the parts where they replay scenes when they have different context, which I find rlly helpful, since there are so many eps. There are a lot of calculating ppl in the story, so it’s hard to keep track of how that ties into motives or story since I kinda just go w/ the flow, and I don’t try to theorize what happens next bc my brain is too small for all that.
Acting/Cast: Sheesh for the lightheartedness this show usually has, when smth goes down, the actors don't disappoint. Each character has their own quirks, and they're lovely in their unique way. The ml's snarkiness adds to the comedy aspect and makes it more enjoyable. I also like how not every fem character is a love interest, and it's refreshing to see a best friend dynamic that's just them hanging out and complaining about life's woes.
Music: I was surprised to hear 李建 singing the intro haha, but it does foreshadow events in the story. Bg music is very silly but enjoyable nonetheless.
Rewatch value: Lots of stuff/clues to look for after a rewatch, though that is a bit off-putting since there’s so many eps, and like I said before, once the plot gets new info, it replays flashbacks w/ new context. Not to mention there’s a S2, so I think this one is a one-and-done for me. Good show regardless!
—我们都要好好活着，对吧？
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Prepare for plot twists at every turn
TLDR; This is the first revenge plot I've watched tbh. Plot twist galore. Thinking back from the beginning, we've come a really long way.. Story seems too convoluted to me, and there are some parts where I feel like they did it just bc plot (and I’m not gonna go heavy sleuthing abt to see if it actually makes sense). It’s not bad tho. Okay but like the sibling relationship is strong in this one even tho they're assholes lol. Acting is phenomenal and not everything is as it seems.. This show by far has put in the most effort in their music bc each song complements each other, and the lyrics are meaningful to the character dynamics. I feel like it's underappreciated, and it really adds to the scenes. Worth a rewatch if you want to catch all the details you missed before bc there's a mystery aspect too.Story: There are some parts where I don't quite understand where the plot is, esp when it comes to the mystery. The romance part of it is reeeeally slow like it's mostly a revenge story, which is fine, but it keeps going back and forth like the relationship is going nowhere, and they're always on different wavelengths a lot of the time. But I mean, it gets better near the end. Some of the character writing seems a bit off esp w/ He Wenshen when the acting doesn't fit w/ his personality, but honestly I don't think it's the actor’s fault bc I've seen his better performances on other shows. There are also a lot of girboss moments that's def directed toward the audience.
Acting: At first, I had my doubts about the actor who plays the dad bc he was the comic relief from another show, and I couldn't take him seriously for like the first 10 eps but it grew on me. The fl's mother's acting is insanely well done like I feel the emotions through the screen. Tbh I just picked those 2, but all of the actors and actresses did an amazing job. The battle scenes are well-choreographed, and I think for the most part, it's all the actors and not stunt doubles.
Music: The bg music is so dramatic lol. I appreciate that the music focuses more on the lyrics, which gets overlooked a lot of the time, and it's so poetic..
Rewatch value: Honestly so much happens that every little detail at the beginning before everything starts going downhill might foreshadow a future event, and it's def worth a rewatch if you want to figure out the tidbits you missed the first time. But for me, I'm low on brain cells to try to parse all that info lol.
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eh p low budget, again being pretty generous in my rating
First impression: What happened to the original dubbers like I understand maybe replacing the support characters but the leads?? also wtf is that intro like why is it echoing in a rly horrendous way 😭 im like cackling cause its so bad funny NAHH they did it for the outro too,, okay nvm ig it was just a first ep thing they didn’t bother w/?? I think I found my guilty pleasure genre bc why do I still want to finish this lolTLDR; One takeaway from this show that you need to know is that Qilu is a walking red flag. If you see someone like that irl pls avoid 🙏. I rly feel like this is supposed to be a teen demo bc as an adult, I see his actions towards Chuxia as not healthy and def abusive. Hanyu would've been a better option imo. There are a ton of plotholes, and there’s def better comedy than romance. The acting is pretty exaggerated tbh, and it def could’ve been better. I will say intro and outro music is lowkey a banger. Rewatch value is def a one-and-done for this one. Apparently there’s a spinoff, but watching another type of this kind of plot will make me tired of it lol.
Story: tbh if you’re familiar with the genre, it’s pretty obvious that [redacted] will get together with [redacted], but that doesn’t mean I have to be happy abt it. I also don’t understand why other than to satisfy the trope bc she clearly doesn’t like him to that degree, and there’s def someone out there that has always actually cherishes her in a way that he never will. I just feel like there’s a lot of lazy writing too like Hanyu will be not in like 5 eps, and there’s not much explanation as to why other than a faulty excuse lol. And the way they wrote him off like that. omg fr Hanyu deserved better my boy 😭
Acting/Cast: tbh Jiang Chenchuan is pretty funny and his acting is maybe the most natural/best out of the whole cast. All the facial expressions are so exaggerated sometimes it’s funny.
Music: Honestly intro and outro music is p catchy, although the lyrics are kinda mid ngl.
Rewatch value: I don’t think I could rewatch this series again LOL
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