Shreya

Let me start by giving an old production warning since it’s something to keep in mind when watching this drama. The Legend of Rosy Clouds was filmed back in 2023 and suffered from censorship and copyright issues which means it has some questionable editing, random scene cuts and incoherent storytelling, especially in the initial episodes. To top it all, this drama is fairly low budget so you can expect some mediocre action scenes, beautiful but repetitive costumes and overall, a pretty outdated production quality.

The underlying plot had potential but failed to execute it properly. The plot lacked depth and proper build up, so events just appeared to happen out of nowhere. Some abrupt scene cuts meant you had to pretty much guess what happened and stitch the story yourself to make it make sense. The story also had a Wuxia/Fantasy backdrop which wasn't set up at all and made certain fantasy elements stick out sorely, being unable to be integrated into the story.

So, if you are a fan of the original work or just a lover of the current high-budget costume dramas with strong plot and cohesive storytelling, it is best to approach this drama with some caution.

Then what’s good about this drama? I’d say the humour. Personally, the comedy is the biggest strength of this drama, which makes it really engaging and fun to watch. At times, the humour is subtle, at times it's loud but it’s thoroughly entertaining and never failed to make me laugh. Most of the characters are also interesting (even if rather underdeveloped) and have really fun dynamics which don't feel forced and are naturally funny thanks to the strong acting by the entire cast.

Which brings us to the strongest attraction of this drama - its stellar cast. Joseph Zeng, Li Yitong, Deng Wei, Riley Wang, Dai Luwa, Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin in one drama, need I say more? As this drama was filmed before most of them had their breakthrough, it’s filled with some big names in supporting roles, so rest assured the acting is in good hands.

I loved Joseph as our male lead, Qi Zheng. He is goofy, expressive and fun but also clever and clear-headed when the situation calls for it. He is sincere in his actions and has such a fun dynamic with literally every single character. I only wish they had toned down his jealously a bit. While it’s my first time seeing Li Yitong, I liked her as the kind and decisive Fan Yun who stepped up for everyone. She’s smart and rational with big dreams and very little interest in romance. It takes some time for the drama to properly establish the tone of her character, but I think it does somewhat get there eventually.

The romance is there but it’s not the central focus of the story. The love triangle is also there but again, not the focus. And I personally found the main couple cute, so I didn’t care much for the second male lead, Zheng Shi. Just watch it for Deng Wei’s duality and pretty visuals, and Zheng Shi's relationship with his grandfather which was unexpectedly really heartfelt.

The second couple on the other hand is a total scene stealer. Gao Ran and Wei Shisan were a refreshing contrast to the main couple, and their romance was really cute and wholesome. Riley and Dai Luwa were amazing together and have such great chemistry that I definitely need them as leads in another drama.

Tian Jiarui and Cheng Hongxin as a duo or with Joseph as a trio is my most favourite part of this drama. I’m admittedly biased but they lit up every scene they were in. I really enjoyed their interactions and loved every second they were on my screen.

In fact, this is one of those dramas where I was more invested in the fillers than the actual plot. So, if you have a cast member anchoring you to the story, it's definitely worth trying because the character dynamics, especially the side characters are really fun. If you don’t but are in a mood for something light and fun, it’s still worth a shot to see if you can overlook the imperfections.

Overall, The Legend of Rosy Clouds is pretty flawed. On a normal day, I would not go around recommending this drama to anyone. But as fan of the cast, I'm honestly just glad that this drama was finally released and generally enjoyed my time watching this thanks to all the fun moments. If you can survive the flaws, this drama is still visually pretty with some really nice osts, great acting and exceptionally good comedy.

So, if you are willing to give it some grace, you might actually be able to enjoy it. Just keep your expectations low, don't think too deeply and simply go with the flow.