Terrible acting and bad storyline
This drama is an adaptation of the webtoon and Korean drama "ID Gangnam Beauty." The Korean version was already flawed but was still serviceable as the acting and chemistry between the cast made up for it. This Thai version is atrocious, I cannot even begin the boring conversations, the ignorance, bad acting and lack of chemistry. FL is so unbelievably frustrating to watch from beginning to end, the ML is a robot with no emotions, both leads have zero chemistry and you can feel the apparent awkwardness from both of them each time they are on camera. The SFL is mostly carrying the drama but the rest of the supporting amateur cast does nothing to elevate the drama. I cannot even bring myself to give a a passing grade. If not watching just to support your bias, definitely a waste of time and do not recommend to save your brain cells.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
How to be "Passionlessly" out of love!
This show was on my radar before it aired. Both leads look compatible visually and close in age with an interesting romance drama titled "passionate in love" and implies two young lovers in a full-blown passionate affair. Oh boy, what can go wrong?Character wise, I cannot even hide my disappointment in the lack of storyline, it felt like ML was chasing after FL the whole time. FL has a borderline narcissistic personality which she describes as overconfidence. She is inconsiderate about everyone else until someone is upfront with her. ML acts like FL is his whole life which you can interpret as "romantic" but its not. Many times, FL is playing around cause she enjoys the chase and excitement. This is exacerbated by the fact that actress herself cannot perform intimate scenes and brought on a whole controversy that is more heated than the non-existent plot in this show. The FL just appears to keep dodging at the thought of a potential kiss. The FL in the novel is bold, confident and - let's be real - not at all shy when it comes to kissing since she initiates most of them. FL in drama is complete opposite, to say she is a miscast for whatever reasons is an understatement. The whole production team trying to sell a product that doesn't resonate with what the audience expects, play with teasers and build up the anticipation only to ruin it, you bet there will be a backlash. It feels like one paid for premium but ended getting scammed with an inferior product, cannot shake off that feeling like being ripped off cause they cheap out with fake camera angles and borrowed kisses. They are being downright disrespectful to the viewers and they're not even trying to hide that fact.
Many times it feels like ML is trying to salvage the remaining pieces, but FL has a low EQ and has a problem with reciprocating love. Most of the time the actress herself spaces out without an ounce of this "passion" for acting. When the scene requires intimacy, ML is giving passionate gazes and shooting cupid arrows at her, FL just tenses up and becomes a frozen cube. As a viewer, that discomfort transfers over to me once I realized she is truly intimated by intimacies so all those romantic scenes looks forced and unnatural. It truly was hard to watch! The only thing that had it going was the good OST. I still managed to finish the show barely getting through it with FF button.
Editing wise, there were so many choppy parts where they were doing one scene and it skipped over to something else so they ruined the whole flow of the story. The leads' relationship felt tumultuous and downright unhealthy and it felt like they were both in this sort of complicated loop that they can't climb out of. Sure they manage to get a happy ending but it fell short and didn't seem to address the issues that kept popping out throughout the entirety of the show. You can say they sort of breezed through it. Towards the end they continue to drag on unnecessary filler scenes and the focus started shifting towards the supporting couple. It almost felt like the actress and/or director sabotaged her character but she isn't entirely at fault since her agency should have not accepted a script if she's downright uncomfortable doing these roles. The director is still mostly at fault for casting an actress who cannot deliver along with the poor directing/editing so there's a whole set of problems that spiraled into what it is. Quite disappointed since it was high on my anticipated list of shows to watch but floundered as it progressed on. This has got to be one of the worst romance dramas I've seen, I'm just not vibing with the flaws in this.
Is it worth the watch?
Yes, if you didn't read the novel and have little to no expectations. Visually it's top notch and the leads look great together, the acting is not atrocious, only subpar and flat at times but still somewhat bearable.
No, if you loved the novel and have standard expectations as you bet you're going to be very frustrated as there doesn't seem to be much of a plot and feels messy at times.
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Beautiful cast, good acting and plot that keeps you addicted.
The show is about adventure, mystery, thriller and martial arts. A slight romance line with the main leads serves to balance out the storyline nicely.Setting: Chinese Republican Era. Internal struggle with the different rules in Pecta-sect and to break free of the norm for freedom. Traditional vs Modern way of life is tested on rules on marriage, sacrifice, family, politics, ambitions, power and greed. 9.5/10
Cast: Recommend to watch cause the acting is superb, plot is good for the most part and Xu Kai/Elaine are just so handsome/pretty without a bad angle. The role just fits Xu Kai like a glove and his character is so likeable and has no flaws. Elaine rarely does martial art shows and she is really mesmerizing beauty in ancient clothing. Wang Yang is an excellent actor with his impeccable acting that commands attention. All of them have excellent chemistry which makes you feel for their circumstances. There are a few antagonist in the show which I will not reveal to not spoil, some frustrating and annoying characters in the show. 10/10
Romance: Both leads are compatible on-screen and off-screen. The love line between the main leads sometimes feel rushed but their chemistry is intertwined smoothly in the second half of this series. Not a lot of kiss scenes but a lot of sweet hugging scenes. Love triangle is limited and almost non-existent. 10/10
Character development: A test for some characters and a guessing game of how some turn good/bad based on their circumstances. A lot of layered characters and internal tensions between the characters and their different worldviews 9.5/10
Visuals: The aesthetics of the drama whether it be the cast, wardrobe and landscaping keep me in awe. Less filter use as seen in other dramas give it more realism. 10/10
OST: A mix of genres. The opening song gives it a mystery feel and the ending duet song is so sweet. Other songs include hip-hop and a sad theme. 7/10
Ending: Deducting some points just cause I am not satisfied with the ending and expected more. Original 48 episodes would have been ideal. The censorship cuts affected the quality of the drama despite it still be enjoying to watch. 9.5/10
Highly recommend to those who are still feeling it out. It is slow-paced with a lot of talking since it is necessary for viewers to unravel the mystery of the KL mountains . The male lead and supporting male lead is a joy to watch. The female lead has her flaws but there is character development and will give a better perspective of her situation. Some parts might look choppy but not really the fault of the production team due to censorship. It gets better with each episode.
Happy tuning in!
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One of the best j-drama romance of this year!
I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. It is a gem and never a dull moment. Read the manga and then watch this show, the chemistry is what brought it to life. Haruka and Hikari's development and how they complement each other along their journey of self discovery is so enjoyable to watch. Their fashion taste develops even better over time and you can't help but smile for them. Acting does feel a little raw at times, and FL can sometimes feel over to top but it gets better throughout the show. A must watch for a light warm-hearted show!Was this review helpful to you?
Story full of romance and beautiful visuals!
Despite it's flaws like any other drama, I found it quite enjoyable to watch. One of the main criticisms is that ZY does not look her part as a tough loyal general HY. She's very charismatic and not meek like the other ancient fragile girls who needs saving, she's doing the saving and shows that females can also be equals. CL is acts convincing as XJ with the cold and indifferent personality but possess a warm nature. If you love romance, this is for you but if you are an avid fan of the novel, you can find yourself on the fence about it. There's also some excruciating annoying characters like CZ and PT in this show but it's not like they are inherently evil so it's not end all be all. Keep it a light watch and just enjoy it for what it is while acknowledging it's not a perfect show. Don't let the negative feedback to stop you from watching it, you have to form your own judgement after you watch it. I've watched every single episode without much skipping, it's has entertaining value with romance and action. Highly recommended!Was this review helpful to you?
