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THE BEST POLITICAL-HISTORICAL DRAMA!
I don't know where to begin. Because, this drama had me floored. I regret putting it off for so long.
Let's start with the cast. Lots of familiar faces. I loved Bai Lu in King Is Not Easy and Xu Kai in Falling Into Your Smile. I dare say this drama is Xu Kai's most exceptional work, though I haven't watched many of his dramas. The entire cast were good at acting. Personally, I liked Liu Si Bo and Hong Yao the best of all.
The story has so many powerful woman characters. First, there's Xie Xiang who is so brave to attend a military academy disguised as a man. She always finds a way around with her wits. She is also very dedicated and determined - the way she worked hard because she fell behind academically says it all. She doesn't wait for aid to arrive and handles issues single-handed. I was so impressed when she saved her best friend from the Japanese all alone and even managed to save another guy. Manting might come across as annoying sometimes, but she is as bold and brave as Xie Xiang. She is good at giving counter replies and she saved Yanzhen several times. Xiaoyu is another bold woman, best known for taking revenge. And there is Xianrong - though she is villain, sometimes I did see a heart beating beneath her....I really wished they shown us what happened in the past for her character to be so bitter. And the wardrobe collection of Manting, Xiaoyu and Xianrong should be appreciated...though I only liked Xie Xiang's men's outfits, not the dresses.
Ah...Xu Kai....Xu Kai. No wonder he won the Best Actor Award for his role. I really loved his flirty, childish, naughty and teasing character Yanzhen. I can't imagine someone else playing that role. Personally, I am not a fan of political/historical dramas but Yanzhen made the show very interesting. Even his micro-expressions were so re-watchable. I absolutely loved his character development - from the indifferent and irresponsible guy to empathetic and decisive man. When other's are at their wits end, Yanzhen saves the day. Next, Huang Song stole my heart. The moment I set my eyes on him, I knew that I am gonna love him. He was so intelligent academically and I felt so annoyed when his academy friends teased his stutter. He always helped Liangchen and I cried ugly after what happened to him - till the end, he was unaware about Xie Liangchen's truth. Ji Jin and Yanlin were also really good. Shen Junshan is the perfect second lead we often see in the dramas. Though I hated Lin Wenzhong in the beginning, I really loved his redemption arc and then they had to go and ruin his happy ending. He and the flower-girl looked like a nice couple. The academy instructors were hot and handsome too. Shen Tingbai's love made my heart waver - he is gentleman in every way.
Personally, I liked the friendship bond between Xiaojun and Xie Xiang and Xie Liangchen and Huang Song. And I also liked the fatherly bond between Gu and Xie Liangchen and Gu and Manting - I wish there were more scenes of them. Also, Manting and her assistant bond was amazing.
However, till ep 40, the drama's pace is relaxed. But, once we enter ep 40, the brutality of the war and politics come into play and suddenly the pace picks up. From here on, the scenes get a bit choppy, many of the characters get low or no screen time and loopholes begin to appear. There is no romance between the main leads, except for Manting. But, the chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu made up for the missing romance. As a person who values story more than romance, this was a perfect drama for me.
The OST is such a groovy piece. And the other OST called Dreaming I guess - it was sung by Bai Lu and Xu Kai. I mean I know Xu Kai is a singer but I never knew Bai Lu can sing so well.
The cinematography and the early 1920's vibes make this drama unique and fantastic.
Overall: 9/10. I will re-watch it for Yanzhen and Huang Song.
Let's start with the cast. Lots of familiar faces. I loved Bai Lu in King Is Not Easy and Xu Kai in Falling Into Your Smile. I dare say this drama is Xu Kai's most exceptional work, though I haven't watched many of his dramas. The entire cast were good at acting. Personally, I liked Liu Si Bo and Hong Yao the best of all.
The story has so many powerful woman characters. First, there's Xie Xiang who is so brave to attend a military academy disguised as a man. She always finds a way around with her wits. She is also very dedicated and determined - the way she worked hard because she fell behind academically says it all. She doesn't wait for aid to arrive and handles issues single-handed. I was so impressed when she saved her best friend from the Japanese all alone and even managed to save another guy. Manting might come across as annoying sometimes, but she is as bold and brave as Xie Xiang. She is good at giving counter replies and she saved Yanzhen several times. Xiaoyu is another bold woman, best known for taking revenge. And there is Xianrong - though she is villain, sometimes I did see a heart beating beneath her....I really wished they shown us what happened in the past for her character to be so bitter. And the wardrobe collection of Manting, Xiaoyu and Xianrong should be appreciated...though I only liked Xie Xiang's men's outfits, not the dresses.
Ah...Xu Kai....Xu Kai. No wonder he won the Best Actor Award for his role. I really loved his flirty, childish, naughty and teasing character Yanzhen. I can't imagine someone else playing that role. Personally, I am not a fan of political/historical dramas but Yanzhen made the show very interesting. Even his micro-expressions were so re-watchable. I absolutely loved his character development - from the indifferent and irresponsible guy to empathetic and decisive man. When other's are at their wits end, Yanzhen saves the day. Next, Huang Song stole my heart. The moment I set my eyes on him, I knew that I am gonna love him. He was so intelligent academically and I felt so annoyed when his academy friends teased his stutter. He always helped Liangchen and I cried ugly after what happened to him - till the end, he was unaware about Xie Liangchen's truth. Ji Jin and Yanlin were also really good. Shen Junshan is the perfect second lead we often see in the dramas. Though I hated Lin Wenzhong in the beginning, I really loved his redemption arc and then they had to go and ruin his happy ending. He and the flower-girl looked like a nice couple. The academy instructors were hot and handsome too. Shen Tingbai's love made my heart waver - he is gentleman in every way.
Personally, I liked the friendship bond between Xiaojun and Xie Xiang and Xie Liangchen and Huang Song. And I also liked the fatherly bond between Gu and Xie Liangchen and Gu and Manting - I wish there were more scenes of them. Also, Manting and her assistant bond was amazing.
However, till ep 40, the drama's pace is relaxed. But, once we enter ep 40, the brutality of the war and politics come into play and suddenly the pace picks up. From here on, the scenes get a bit choppy, many of the characters get low or no screen time and loopholes begin to appear. There is no romance between the main leads, except for Manting. But, the chemistry between Xu Kai and Bai Lu made up for the missing romance. As a person who values story more than romance, this was a perfect drama for me.
The OST is such a groovy piece. And the other OST called Dreaming I guess - it was sung by Bai Lu and Xu Kai. I mean I know Xu Kai is a singer but I never knew Bai Lu can sing so well.
The cinematography and the early 1920's vibes make this drama unique and fantastic.
Overall: 9/10. I will re-watch it for Yanzhen and Huang Song.
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