Editorials 
1
This review may contain spoilers
What a disappointment, because this drama started off so well!
The first half was genuinely enjoyable. Yes, it contained practically every historical C-drama trope imaginable, but somehow it still managed to be interesting, engaging and entertaining. The characters had potential, the romance had chemistry, and I was genuinely invested in their journey.
Unfortunately, from around episode 22, the storyline went downhill rather rapidly.
The biggest problem for me was the character development, or rather the lack of it. The FL suddenly seemed capable of absolutely everything: scheming, military strategy, fighting and leading soldiers. All without any believable development to get her there. Reading a military strategy book apparently does wonders!
What made it worse was that she became increasingly manipulative, involved in everything and unlikeable. I actually stopped rooting for her, which is never a good sign when watching a drama.
The ML was another disappointment. I liked him, but his own storyline was surprisingly weak. He seemed to spend most of his time agreeing with the FL, supporting her decisions and making excuses for her behaviour. I wanted more from him: his own ambitions, conflicts, principles and character development. He deserved a much stronger storyline.
The relationship involving his friend, who wanted to marry the FL despite her rejection, was also rather strange. There was no meaningful conflict or even much acknowledgement of how uncomfortable the situation should have been.
The cast, however, deserves considerable credit. The FL actress did an excellent job portraying both identities, making them distinct while also suggesting that underneath their different circumstances, they shared many of the same personality traits.
Yan An was very good as the ML, and Dai Gaozheng made a particularly convincing antagonist. The acting was not the problem here.
Ultimately, the drama seemed to lose its original identity. It became overloaded with conspiracies, villains, manipulation and increasingly unbelievable plot developments. There were some genuinely interesting ideas, but they felt like several different stories forced together rather than one coherent storyline.
It’s a shame, because there was so much potential here. I started out genuinely hooked, but by the later episodes I had completely lost interest in the characters.
Excellent cast, promising beginning, disappointing writing. The actors deserved better.
Unfortunately, from around episode 22, the storyline went downhill rather rapidly.
The biggest problem for me was the character development, or rather the lack of it. The FL suddenly seemed capable of absolutely everything: scheming, military strategy, fighting and leading soldiers. All without any believable development to get her there. Reading a military strategy book apparently does wonders!
What made it worse was that she became increasingly manipulative, involved in everything and unlikeable. I actually stopped rooting for her, which is never a good sign when watching a drama.
The ML was another disappointment. I liked him, but his own storyline was surprisingly weak. He seemed to spend most of his time agreeing with the FL, supporting her decisions and making excuses for her behaviour. I wanted more from him: his own ambitions, conflicts, principles and character development. He deserved a much stronger storyline.
The relationship involving his friend, who wanted to marry the FL despite her rejection, was also rather strange. There was no meaningful conflict or even much acknowledgement of how uncomfortable the situation should have been.
The cast, however, deserves considerable credit. The FL actress did an excellent job portraying both identities, making them distinct while also suggesting that underneath their different circumstances, they shared many of the same personality traits.
Yan An was very good as the ML, and Dai Gaozheng made a particularly convincing antagonist. The acting was not the problem here.
Ultimately, the drama seemed to lose its original identity. It became overloaded with conspiracies, villains, manipulation and increasingly unbelievable plot developments. There were some genuinely interesting ideas, but they felt like several different stories forced together rather than one coherent storyline.
It’s a shame, because there was so much potential here. I started out genuinely hooked, but by the later episodes I had completely lost interest in the characters.
Excellent cast, promising beginning, disappointing writing. The actors deserved better.
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