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This review may contain spoilers
A drama that would have benefitted from 40+ episodes
This is a review from someone who has read the novel, knowing that there would be changes given censorship and some unfortunate events that rendered editing.
Highlights:
* Main Leads and Their Chemistry: Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei absolutely nailed their roles. Their chemistry was the driving force that kept me watching. Despite some criticism toward Zhou Ye for not fitting the "masculine" image of a general, she embodied the character as described in the novel. She played He Yan with depth and grace, staying true to her arc. I really hope the two actors collaborate again in the near future!
* Casting: From the leads to the supporting cast, the casting was spot-on. Characters like Xiao Mai, Wang Ba, Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong, Song Tao Tao, Liu Bu Wang, and Yan He were all portrayed perfectly. Even the villains, particularly Xu Jing Fu, were well-cast. The actor had the perfect aura for his role, and his performance in Lost You Forever only added to the credibility here.
* Action and Martial Arts Choreography: Zhou Ye's hard work definitely paid off. Her weapon-wielding skills were on full display and added a raw intensity to the action scenes. I’m excited to see her take on more roles in action-packed dramas moving forward.
* Zhou Shen's OST
* Faithful Adaptation: I appreciated how the show stayed true to many iconic moments and quotes from the novel. Fans of the book will recognize and appreciate these little details.
* Romantic Dynamics: The slow-burn romance between XJ and HY in the novel was one of my favorites, and while the drama took a much more romantic, overt approach, it still worked. The chemistry between the leads made up for the shift in tone.
Changes That Still Worked:
* He Yan’s Journey: The inclusion of He Yan reclaiming her identity as General Fei Hong and the emotional conversation with her mother (even if brief) added a layer of depth that the novel regretfully didn’t have. It felt like a moment of closure for the character.
* Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao: Their dynamic as a cute medical duo was a surprising highlight. Even though Cheng Li Su’s development was hindered by some cut scenes, their relationship still brought some light-hearted moments to balance the darker themes.
* Yan He and Xiao Jue’s Friendship: Seeing Yan He and Xiao Jue become genuine friends (instead of constant rivals) was a nice twist. It was a bit unusual, but their camaraderie added a new layer to their characters. I found their friendship unexpectedly heartwarming.
* Li Kuang’s Redemption: Li Kuang’s character arc was a pleasant surprise. Watching him redeem himself under General Fei Hong’s guidance brought a satisfying conclusion to his storyline.
Lows:
* Pacing and Editing: The execution of the plots left a lot to be desired. The choppy editing and excessive use of flashbacks to explain events felt rushed. Character and plot development took a backseat to squeezing in every event or character, which made the pacing jarring. It often felt like things were happening for the sake of it, without enough room to breathe. Although the romance was good, HY's journey as a powerful and strategic general was downplayed (which should have been the point of the story)
* Underutilized Villains: The villains had plenty of screen time but were ultimately underdeveloped.
* He Ru Fei: A one-dimensional character who threw tantrums every five seconds. There was so much potential here, but the writing failed to give him the complexity he needed.
* Chu Zhao: This was a missed opportunity. What started as a morally grey character turned into little more than a romantic plot device, obsessed with his love for HY. The show should have either followed the novel or given him a proper redemption arc to elevate his character.
* Unnecessary Plot Lines: Several subplots felt like distractions when more time could’ve been spent developing the main story. For example:
*The misunderstanding between HY and XJ over his father’s death and the connection to the Qing Lang sword took away from HY’s independence. It also detracted from the emotional weight the sword could’ve held as a symbol of her heritage.
* The forced conflict where Chu Zhao tries to break up the leads for a last-minute drama subplot felt weak. XJ’s response was completely out of character. In the novel, he was far too sharp to be manipulated in such a naïve, mopey noble idiot. The dramatic angst just didn’t land, leaving the actors' performances as the only redeeming factor of that storyline.
Although there were regrets on what could've been given the potential and promising storyline, I still enjoyed it for what it was. If you're simply in for romance and overlook the plot holes and editing, you will love this. For those who didn't read the novel, I recommend checking it out to help fill in the gaps.
Highlights:
* Main Leads and Their Chemistry: Zhou Ye and Cheng Lei absolutely nailed their roles. Their chemistry was the driving force that kept me watching. Despite some criticism toward Zhou Ye for not fitting the "masculine" image of a general, she embodied the character as described in the novel. She played He Yan with depth and grace, staying true to her arc. I really hope the two actors collaborate again in the near future!
* Casting: From the leads to the supporting cast, the casting was spot-on. Characters like Xiao Mai, Wang Ba, Jiang Jiao, Huang Xiong, Song Tao Tao, Liu Bu Wang, and Yan He were all portrayed perfectly. Even the villains, particularly Xu Jing Fu, were well-cast. The actor had the perfect aura for his role, and his performance in Lost You Forever only added to the credibility here.
* Action and Martial Arts Choreography: Zhou Ye's hard work definitely paid off. Her weapon-wielding skills were on full display and added a raw intensity to the action scenes. I’m excited to see her take on more roles in action-packed dramas moving forward.
* Zhou Shen's OST
* Faithful Adaptation: I appreciated how the show stayed true to many iconic moments and quotes from the novel. Fans of the book will recognize and appreciate these little details.
* Romantic Dynamics: The slow-burn romance between XJ and HY in the novel was one of my favorites, and while the drama took a much more romantic, overt approach, it still worked. The chemistry between the leads made up for the shift in tone.
Changes That Still Worked:
* He Yan’s Journey: The inclusion of He Yan reclaiming her identity as General Fei Hong and the emotional conversation with her mother (even if brief) added a layer of depth that the novel regretfully didn’t have. It felt like a moment of closure for the character.
* Cheng Li Su and Song Tao Tao: Their dynamic as a cute medical duo was a surprising highlight. Even though Cheng Li Su’s development was hindered by some cut scenes, their relationship still brought some light-hearted moments to balance the darker themes.
* Yan He and Xiao Jue’s Friendship: Seeing Yan He and Xiao Jue become genuine friends (instead of constant rivals) was a nice twist. It was a bit unusual, but their camaraderie added a new layer to their characters. I found their friendship unexpectedly heartwarming.
* Li Kuang’s Redemption: Li Kuang’s character arc was a pleasant surprise. Watching him redeem himself under General Fei Hong’s guidance brought a satisfying conclusion to his storyline.
Lows:
* Pacing and Editing: The execution of the plots left a lot to be desired. The choppy editing and excessive use of flashbacks to explain events felt rushed. Character and plot development took a backseat to squeezing in every event or character, which made the pacing jarring. It often felt like things were happening for the sake of it, without enough room to breathe. Although the romance was good, HY's journey as a powerful and strategic general was downplayed (which should have been the point of the story)
* Underutilized Villains: The villains had plenty of screen time but were ultimately underdeveloped.
* He Ru Fei: A one-dimensional character who threw tantrums every five seconds. There was so much potential here, but the writing failed to give him the complexity he needed.
* Chu Zhao: This was a missed opportunity. What started as a morally grey character turned into little more than a romantic plot device, obsessed with his love for HY. The show should have either followed the novel or given him a proper redemption arc to elevate his character.
* Unnecessary Plot Lines: Several subplots felt like distractions when more time could’ve been spent developing the main story. For example:
*The misunderstanding between HY and XJ over his father’s death and the connection to the Qing Lang sword took away from HY’s independence. It also detracted from the emotional weight the sword could’ve held as a symbol of her heritage.
* The forced conflict where Chu Zhao tries to break up the leads for a last-minute drama subplot felt weak. XJ’s response was completely out of character. In the novel, he was far too sharp to be manipulated in such a naïve, mopey noble idiot. The dramatic angst just didn’t land, leaving the actors' performances as the only redeeming factor of that storyline.
Although there were regrets on what could've been given the potential and promising storyline, I still enjoyed it for what it was. If you're simply in for romance and overlook the plot holes and editing, you will love this. For those who didn't read the novel, I recommend checking it out to help fill in the gaps.
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