Not a masterpiece, but surprisingly addictive.
I often saw this drama in recommendations but avoided it at first since I’m not really into BL. Still, the overwhelming popularity made me curious, so I finally gave it a try.
Honestly, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece like many others do. The story has its flaws, the action scenes weren’t great, and the first few episodes were confusing and boring. I almost dropped it early on, but what kept me intrigued was Wei Wuxian’s (WWX) past—which was briefly teased in Episode 1.
I ended up watching the special episodes first (since they were shorter), and I was hooked. The long flashback arc was the highlight for me. It was so compelling that I kept rewatching those episodes again and again. I even read the novel just to see how it compared.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to rewatch the episodes that came after the flashback. The writing started to fall apart, the plot felt scattered, and many scenes felt like pure fan service. It just didn’t hit the same.
Honestly, I wish the entire series had focused on WWX’s backstory. Those 30 episodes alone were enough to carry the show and could’ve stood on their own—even as a full-length movie. Despite some flaws, they were solid and emotionally impactful.
Acting-wise, the leads did a good job. Xiao Zhan had both great and average moments. His early portrayal of the playful WWX felt a bit forced, but he truly shined during the siege and rebellion arc—his performance captured WWX’s pain, rage, and despair incredibly well.
Wang Yibo also delivered as Lan Zhan (LZ). His role was tough—very few lines and minimal emotion—but he managed to make it work. Still, I eventually lost interest in LZ since WWX completely stole the spotlight.
I appreciated the added focus on the senior sister and the siblings' relationship. It helped deepen WWX’s emotional motivations. I also liked Wen Qing’s added scenes. While some disliked her expanded role, I think it helped make her and her clan feel more human. Their tragic end hit harder because of it.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed about 30 episodes of this drama—so much that I rewatched them multiple times. I’m glad I gave it a shot, even if I didn’t love everything.
I often saw this drama in recommendations but avoided it at first since I’m not really into BL. Still, the overwhelming popularity made me curious, so I finally gave it a try.
Honestly, I wouldn't call it a masterpiece like many others do. The story has its flaws, the action scenes weren’t great, and the first few episodes were confusing and boring. I almost dropped it early on, but what kept me intrigued was Wei Wuxian’s (WWX) past—which was briefly teased in Episode 1.
I ended up watching the special episodes first (since they were shorter), and I was hooked. The long flashback arc was the highlight for me. It was so compelling that I kept rewatching those episodes again and again. I even read the novel just to see how it compared.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t bring myself to rewatch the episodes that came after the flashback. The writing started to fall apart, the plot felt scattered, and many scenes felt like pure fan service. It just didn’t hit the same.
Honestly, I wish the entire series had focused on WWX’s backstory. Those 30 episodes alone were enough to carry the show and could’ve stood on their own—even as a full-length movie. Despite some flaws, they were solid and emotionally impactful.
Acting-wise, the leads did a good job. Xiao Zhan had both great and average moments. His early portrayal of the playful WWX felt a bit forced, but he truly shined during the siege and rebellion arc—his performance captured WWX’s pain, rage, and despair incredibly well.
Wang Yibo also delivered as Lan Zhan (LZ). His role was tough—very few lines and minimal emotion—but he managed to make it work. Still, I eventually lost interest in LZ since WWX completely stole the spotlight.
I appreciated the added focus on the senior sister and the siblings' relationship. It helped deepen WWX’s emotional motivations. I also liked Wen Qing’s added scenes. While some disliked her expanded role, I think it helped make her and her clan feel more human. Their tragic end hit harder because of it.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed about 30 episodes of this drama—so much that I rewatched them multiple times. I’m glad I gave it a shot, even if I didn’t love everything.
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