Unless you can endure melodramas for Xu Kai or Yang Zi, I would advise you leave...
I think this show had potential. Family dramas have the tendency to be a little bit one-dimensional and boring, but I think this could've gone a lot of different places. From insights on filial piety to motherly affection to individualism in today's society, there were so many things that could've been explored in this drama. None of these things were touched, which was disappointing. Even more so...The part about this drama I can't stand (probably influenced by my implicit biases, but anyway) is the story. The mom by herself didn't bother me like the other viewers were bothered. The mom was an over-attentive, un-empathetic, but ultimately caring person... you know Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice? Kind of like that. That type of character, while definitely unlikable, doesn't bother me if either A) they end up developing in order to represent/symbolize some sort of message or B) they just don't appear all the much.
This drama does not check off EITHER of those boxes. The mom is the only main lead, as other reviewers have noted, in this drama. She gets more screen time I daresay than Xu Kai, and possibly even more than Yang Zi. Even worse, the drama ends on the note of 'we should all quit our jobs to help our well-intentioned mother (which is fair) because she's ultimately the best for us (untrue as evidenced throughout this drama).' I think filial piety is a common theme among mainland dramas, and one that was expressed both as a prison for the female lead and also... the happy ending? There was no growth or insight that led up to this result either. The mom stayed the mom. The daughter adapted for the mom, no matter how much she was tortured and trapped by the mom's antics. This drama doesn't teach how to be a good son/daughter more than how to get stuck in an unhealthy parent/child relationship. It bothered me... and still does to this day. The saving grace in terms of insight for this drama could be the grandma, but then you'd have to stop watching after the first few episodes.
Beyond that, there's basically no plot or direction to this drama. Many good dramas can be summarized in one overarching statement. Nirvana in Fire describes an exiled general's revenge strategy to reclaim honor for his army. Reset describes two people stranded in a time loop on an inevitably exploding bus. This? It feels like a WebToon. The plot seemed improvised as each episode went on, and ultimately, it didn't really go anywhere. I couldn't summarize it unless I told you everything that happened. And that would be unhelpful.
Finally, although this doesn't really affect my personal rating, do note that if you're a huge celeb-chaser or your idol is in this show you'd probably not see them a lot. Xu Kai doesn't really get screen time until episode 8(?) and Yang Zi gets it but portrays the same scenes over and over again. Not a whole lot of development going on here...
Oh! If you're here for the romance, go find romance dramas. This has about as much of an inkling of romance as Nirvana in Fire does. I guess there's a kiss, but anyway.
Peace out ._.
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This review may contain spoilers
Really unique show! Please look out for Wang Yinglu!
PROS:- Acting stood out to me immensely. I think a lot of young actors/actresses "over-act" or act in ways that are unrealistic for specific scenes/situations. I did not experience that problem here and was totally shocked to know that Wang Yinglu was 22-23(?) at the time of filming this drama. She brought her character Feng BaoBao to life, and I'd argue she's the BEST young actress on the C-drama scheme right now. I'll be looking for more of her work after this drama. Peng Yuchang is not your typical idol/pretty-boy actor either and really embodies the role of Zhang Chulan impeccably.
- Interesting characters. Every character had distinct personalities and motivations, and the character building is pretty top-notch. I think the characters Lv Liang, Zhang Chulan, and Wang Ye were developed particularly well.
- Fight scenes were unconventional but brilliant. Many fights took place with Feng Bao Bao trying to bury people alive or comical (and shameless) Zhang Chulan tactics. They really keep you engaged and make you laugh. Scriptwriting for the humor throughout the drama is pretty consistently great. I'd put it on par with Falling Into Your Smile (surprisingly very very funny) and Fangs of Fortune (I go back to scenes just because they're entertaining).
- Successful and "un-flimsy" merging of contemporary society and Wuxia. The storyline was generally very well-done in terms of keeping consistent plots, though you have to pay attention to the little "time-skip descriptions" and whatnot. A lot of the events are pretty supernatural and need some explaining, so it's easier to watch this drama while paying attention.''
- Really wonderful OST. I enjoy Zhou Shen's song and the collaboration between Hou Minghao and Wang Tianruo (really impressive rhythmic control from Hou Minghao in the beginning). This is probably my favorite OST because it's not only beautiful (like many dramas) but daring/unique. I'd put it on par with Love Between Fairy and Devil, Lighter and Princess, Fangs of Fortune, and the Untamed.
CONS:
- Pacing of the story is a little slow for the first twenty episodes. It sets up what it needs to and is entertaining to watch nevertheless. Most of the important content happens in the last seven episodes. While it doesn't feel rushed, the end feels much more intense than the beginning and required more attention to understand it.
- Some plots felt slightly unfinished and were finished using the descriptions during 'time skips.' I think better pacing would've allowed for more complete feeling plot ends. The ending felt a little bit anticlimactic since the main antagonist was introduced so late (similar lateness as in Fangs of Fortune) and Feng Bao Bao's story never feels fully resolved (though I understand the intention of doing so, the entire drama was kind of building up to that.... this is based on a manhua though, so I don't know how much room for alteration the live action had).
- Generally focused drama, but I think maybe more content could have been fit in. That could make for a more intense/memorable watch (though this was already pretty memorable). I generally think that thrillers are the best-paced of dramas so that's probably why I hold this opinion.
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Masterpiece in story-telling, political intrigue, and acting
After watching Nirvana in Fire, it makes almost everything else hard to watch. It is indeed that good.The first thing I notice about its writing that I find phenomenal is the script. The dialogue is natural and fitting for the time period. Many dramas (Joy of Life, The Untamed, The Long Ballad, etc.) will adapt their script to fit what a modern Chinese person hears perusing through a city. While that increases accessibility and makes it easier for me to watch half-heartedly, I think the script enhances the immersibility (obsolete English word when describing "obsolete" Chinese language) of the drama.
The second thing that I think is unparalleled (even in Korean, Japanese, and other C-dramas) is the storyline. There is an overarching goal— Mei Changsu's revenge for the Chi Yan Army— that holds together and is driven by all the minor subplots, giving the drama a sense of direction. Moreover, I find many Chinese dramas try to use "killing to silence (杀人灭口)" as the solution when confronted with political scheming; it solves the problem quickly but undermines the plot's complexity. Conversely, many of the subplots that are explored in "Nirvana in Fire" are moments or character decisions based largely on anagnorisis, symbolic meaning, and "exposure".
For this to be the case, Mei Changsu inevitably has to be a "cliche" genius. However, his character is lovable and fresh despite that for his reflections, guilt, and humanity that many strategists "are forced to give up." His relationship with the side characters are complex; they are not reduced to "everyone revolves around the protagonist" (besides Mu Nihuang, possibly, though I think her character gives Mei Changsu humanity). Everyone else— including the side characters— have their own complex motivations and personalities. They are not strategists just to introduce a "genius" into the plot; they are characters, which albeit not going through growth, chase their dreams and ambitions to their glory or demise.
Finally, I have to commend the performances in this drama. Victor Huang gave an impeccable Prince Yu (who is a complex and tragic character, though relatively unlikable), Liu Yijun brought the despicable Xie Yu to life, Ding Yongdai delivered a layered yet unpretentious performance for the Emperor, and Liu Min Tao brought to life the motherly (and impossibly intelligent) Consort Jing (who is also one of the better written female-characters in revenge driven plots, even when they're female led).
Nirvana in Fire does not have flashy CGI. The costumes aren't dripping with glitter and no one will vomit blood. However, there's still tension, restraint, humanity, everything you need in a drama despite that. Each episode builds upon the last. Sometimes, I find shows to be entertainment, and other times— like with Nirvana in Fire— I find them to be art.
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Well, kept me entertained until the end.
PROS:- Lots of interesting dishes and chefs
- Good pacing (I notice this about lots of Korean shows actually)
- Generally entertaining and keeps you interested. I think most people would be able to watch until the end as a result.
- Creative competitions. Tofu Hell was really interesting despite being completely brutal.
CONS:
- Obvious maneuvering as others have said to keep the number of "black spoons" and "white spoons" even; this took away some of the show's excitement and appeal IMO and gave it that "scripted" feel
- Too much screen time for some characters/contestants, too little for others. I know that's not a big thing, but some contestants made it quite far and got a total of five minutes of screen time while others who didn't make it as far got much more.
TLDR; I think this show mostly achieved what it was aiming for and is definitely entertaining/worth a watch.
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Best C-drama there is. Fight me.
This is not repetitive, boring, or monotonous like a more foolish version of myself previously assumed. In fact, this drama represents the maturity and growth that the NIRVANA IN FIRE TEAM have achieved since the 2015 masterpiece. Yes, this is written by the same people.The plot boils down to one sentence:
Two young residents of the city Jialin are stuck in a time loop on a bus destined to repeatedly explode.
I find most of the good dramas I watch can be generalized into one sentence descriptions because it means they maintain focus on the larger picture/story throughout. This one does just that while incorporating countless relevant themes (such as cyberbullying, parental affection, how society reacts to absurdity), a fantastically written script, and believable, human characters.
The characters aren't fillers; they think, they feel, they're just like the rest of us. They have their own distinct motivations and desires. The MCs aren't generic. They're pretty damn scared and traumatized, but also courageous and intelligent. All the side characters have wonderfully paced and told backstories that are actually relevant to the plot (how the story introduced so many important themes- oh how I appreciate relevant, ingenious creativity). The acting should theoretically ALWAYS enhance the characters, which it does in this case. Liu Yijun's intense, questioning stares and Liu Dan's acting haunt my dreams to this day. All other actors and actresses deserve a standing ovation too; there's some seriously inspired acting here.
Finally, the pacing is pretty incredible. 15 episodes held my interest all the way through to the point I often forgot to breathe, cried, and laughed all at the same time. It's an adrenaline rush that builds in intensity all the way through.
Only critique would be the last three loops and how the MCs thought through them. It was a little convoluted for how simple it could have been, but that's not a big deal. For what it's worth, this drama is a 10 all the way through. For both me and you, here's to many more times watching Bus No. 45 explode.
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No story has stayed longer than Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's "Mo Dao Zu Shi" in my Heart
It's been six years since I've watched it, so recently, I've decided to give it a rewatch. Despite the *very* corny CGI and low production value (it gets better after the first three episodes), this story is one that has managed to make itself at home in my heart. Wei Wuxian will forever be a character that I really do love.Anyhow, I think the greatest reason to watch "The Untamed" is its intricate storyline. Mo Xiang Tong Xiu and the screenwriters who adapted her work are really geniuses when it comes to characterization. There is not a single character I have forgotten from this drama over the past six years, and each—including the side characters— have their own unique challenges, motivations, and growth. I have never seen another drama with such consistent and alive characters, even when considering "Nirvana in Fire" and "Joy of Life." Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, Jin Guangyao, Lan Wangji— all of them are characters I relate to, hurt for, and love.
Each actor brings their character to life wonderfully too. Zhu Zanjin as Jin Guangyao is one of the most memorable performances from a lesser-known actor I have had the pleasure of watching in C-drama, and Xiao Zhan as Wei Wuxian is immaculate casting. I could tell the actors really loved this project and set, which is always wonderful : )
The stellar development of characters naturally indicates an intricate plot. "The Untamed" manages to cleverly sneak in so many often tragic themes and questions about our everyday lives despite the characters being from a fantastical world far from ours. Do we trust the individual or the group? What is really morality? How do we navigate the world around us and its people despite the obstacles?
I actually don't find the changes from the novel to be overly jarring for novel fans who are deciding whether to watch this. The themes and the essence of the characters are the same even if the romance is toned down (even so, I'd say the connotation is definitely present and it doesn't take a perspicacious eye to tell). More attention is given to the female characters which I think actually better develops why Jiang Yanli was so important to Wei Wuxian. I will say some changes in the semantics of cultivation/events do occur, and while they didn't bother me too much, it isn't completely authentic to the novel.
Given that, I don't have much more to say besides give it a try. I know it's censored and hard to find with good subtitles, but I've heard that Rakuten Viki has a decent translation : )
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The one and only romance to fly towards... all of its watchers can testify!
I could do without Hidden Love, Love 020, and Falling Into Your Smile. The same can't be said for When I Fly Towards You.If you like a beautifully paced and written youth drama with some scattered embarrassing (but not cringy and coincidental) moments, a genuinely smart and confident female lead (you will never find another Su Zai Zai), insightful and witty comments, character growth and life lessons, mostly a lack of nationalized propaganda, interesting and adorable side characters (I could watch a whole drama on any one of them), realistic and relatable characters, and a romance without weird break-ups, triangles, and other fire pits dramas tend to fall into...
Watch this. Otherwise, you're missing out.
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Self-insert protagonist fulfills author's delusions in a questionably "intricate" plot
Given the rave reviews about its humor, characters, and political intrigue, I was *very* excited to start "Joy of Life." Unfortunately, for me, at least, it fell flat.The first reason comes from characterization. In a drama about political intrigue, the hidden motivations and personalities behind the characters are the key drivers behind the plot. While each character did have their distinct personality and motivations (more evident in the side characters such as Fan Sizhe), their actions and relationships didn't line up compellingly with their characters. Without believable characters, it's difficult for me (audience) to buy into almost any of the story.
Almost every female character, whether the ML's prisoner or a respected warrior from the enemy nation, ends up with "some romantic feelings, if not entanglement" for the ML, Fan Xian. Many times, there is no compelling reason *why*, and this ends of harming the depth of the female side characters. The more complex side characters, E.g. Qing Di or Chen Pingping, do have interesting schemes and politics. However, they fall into the cliche boxes that "strategic characters" in C-dramas usually do; they are endlessly ruthless to achieve some "not-yet-revealed, power-related" goal. Their lack of humanity make them one-dimensional and less compelling than similarly strategic protagonists such as Nie Huaisang, Jin Guangyao, Mei Changsu, Consort Jing, Xue Fangfei, etc. are. That is not to say there are no compelling characters in "Joy of Life"; Li Yunrui is a cliche evil-stepmother in a complex way, and Shen Zhong is an interesting break from the "silent, serious strategist" trope.
My biggest gripe lies with the main character, Fan Xian. He is a character with some talent in everything and the same, flippant sense of humor in almost every situation. He experiences character growth in scheme and intelligence often with no catalyst, never stops to reflect on anything (despite being portrayed as an "apotheosis of morality and justice for Teng Zijing" he kills his betrothed's brother and lies about it), participates in a romance warranted only by "love at first sight", and has no clear ambition (that ambition can be to be a regular person, even). These pitfalls mean the story has no arching, clear direction. The story is guided by the protagonist, and the protagonist needs to pick a lane— and stay there— to give the story a beginning and an end. To be clear, I am not against morally gray, complex protagonists— Fan Xian is just inconsistent and somewhat devoid of meaningful substance.
With that, my second problem lies with the writing. In a drama about political intrigue, there are few "symbolic" twists or moments that aren't just the "death of an antagonist" (because obviously, death is the only way to solve problems). There are few schemes with a broader purpose than "this person challenges my power/life and needs to die", which leave the char It is not like "Nirvana in Fire", where the revelation of certain information drives the plot forward by galvanizing character actions. The story seems to be complex but ends up coming off as "simplistic." Longer schemes, like Chen Pingping's, tend to be loose enough to come off as "afterthoughts".
That being said, these flaws are with the story, and given that the show is adapted from a novel—were likely inevitable. The acting and production itself is alright, though nothing to write home about. The script does have lighthearted and humorous characters (Wang Qinian, Fan Sizhe, etc.), but their characters end up becoming "one-trick ponies." The jokes are alright, but some of the puns (as a fluent Chinese speaker) are... so bad they're funny.
Anyhow, "Joy of Life" is definitely better than a lot of other attempts at a good revenge story that are being produced these days. Maybe it's time for me to go back an revisit "Nirvana in Fire."
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Plotless but addictive... just like eating : )
This show is basically eating, and smiling, and more eating. There's not a whole lot of communication going on, but there's also no problems apparently...I think this drama is fine. It's a wonderful introduction to some traditional Chinese music and its ideas (often inspired by poetry, landscapes, and utilizing pentatonic notes) as well as some of the tastiest Chinese cuisine (I don't know if I watched this drama for this, at this point). Either way, it's an introduction to a lot of ancient Chinese culture from both the mainstream and ethnic groups (notably in Yangshuo). If you want some insight without having to read articles and do legitimate work, this could be it for you. Oh, I forgot to mention... it does introduce you to dubbing and voice acting, which is honestly quite interesting : )
It's also very sweet. The romance is romancing, and there's a lot of... 'chemistry' going on. I think it's cute, but also a little pointless. It's just cute and cute and cute and then cute again. It gets pretty monotonous and repetitive for me, but I still watched the whole thing. You do have laughs and giggles and whatever else from this drama, and I think it's a fun watch while you're doing it. You don't get a lot out of it though (I think that's the intention, to be honest).
There is no plot. Note that. If you like complex, intricate plots, this is not where to go. But if you want to cleanse your palate after one of those hyper-intense plots, this may help you. It is a little long for how much it talks about though... 10 episodes honestly could've done it for me.
Finally, it did raise a couple of questions for me even as it killed my brain (brain-rot sweetness warning):
Do people really just start liking each other because of the other persons voice?
How do you really understand another person if... neither of you talk to each other?
Why am I never seeing dubbing conventions, etc., in real life? It'd be interesting to see one....
While this drama is pretty plotless, I think it is INOFFENSIVE. You couldn't really go wrong with it, even if you don't go right!
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I'd be a millionaire if I was paid a cent every time Luo Yunxi vomited blood :)
This was truly a high budget, high-effort, and reasonably well-done project. I really enjoyed a lot of things in this drama, and I think it's quite a landmark for the Xianxia genre (which everyone is exposed to at some point watching C-dramas).GOOD THINGS:
1. LUO YUNXI is fantastic. Genuinely one of the most expressive and talented actors of his generation. I have never seen a devil portrayed so mercilessly yet fantastically (yes, I have seen Zhang Ling He and Wang He Di). He's probably aided by his background as a dancer, and you can see it in the way he moves across the screen or expresses himself facially. This is also an INCREDIBLY dramatic role which I think many other C-drama actors would have done in a fake/unrealistic way, and I could truly not see another person in this role. I would watch this just for the acting. Other actors are very good as well E.g. Bai Lu, Chen Du Ling, Sun Zhen Ni.
2. The storyline is actually pretty interesting; there is a lot of world-hopping and parallel-universe stuff that's really beautifully portrayed. The costume designer and set designers for this drama were definitely working overtime, and the gorgeous scenes contributed to a sense of world-building here. The parallel storylines were actually influential towards the story's development besides being creative/entertaining in and of themselves, which I really appreciated. That being said, there is character development in this show, though I find it a little bit cliche and even overdone.
3. The OST is beautiful. I think that's the general consensus : ) I do think some of the songs are a little monotonous but overall this OST trumps a lot of other ones I heard. A similar drama I'd say that's not as complex but with a more beautiful OST is Love Between Fairy and Devil.
CRITICISMS:
1. Blood-vomiting and make-up was a little overdone. Doesn't detract from the overall drama to me, but I noticed a lot of people complaining about it.
2. An expansive number of plot inconsistencies*. I think this had the potential to be quite a good drama actually, but I felt it was TOO MUCH that was executed in a way that was NOT ENOUGH. I appreciated the amount of creative effort and inventiveness that went into this work, but the recent 40-episode rule in China really implicated this drama. It's based on a very long and very expansive novel, and by cutting certain scenes, things aren't quite contradictory but not well-explained either. I appreciate a culmination of beautiful ideas- I'm just not sure they were tied together well enough here.
3. I think a lot of the things are pretty cliche. The idea of a tortured soul falling in love and achieving a sort of spiritual salvation is pretty unoriginal, and Tantai Jin's troubled upbringing leading to his devilish downfall is another cliche I notice. It's a giant web of woven cliches with a twist, I'd say. I don't mind cliches, but I found them a little excessive to the point that they hurt some of the plot's suspense.
OVERALL, definitely worth a watch. Very aesthetically pleasing and honestly a pretty good watch the first time around. Only after reflecting does it feel a little weird : (
The hype is understandable whether you buy into it or not.
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Unfortunately, very flat...
DISCLAIMER: I have read Zhu Yi's original novel in Mandarin and understand many of the story's flaws are directly copied from there.With that being said, I think this drama is pretty overhyped. It's not bad by any means, but I'd compare it to a less "gritty" and "real" Lighter & Princess (which comparatively, I prefer), where the male and female roles are flipped (and the trauma comes from something besides SA).
Some good things about it:
1. Acting was pretty good. For what the script offers, Bai Jingting portrays a nuanced Sang Yan, and Zhang Ruonan absolutely fits the mold of how I imagined Wen Yifan. Zhang Miaoyi is always wonderful, as is Edward Chen.
2. A LOT of different OSTs. I enjoyed many of them a lot.
3. Sang Yan's deadpans are always comedic relief. I have never seen somebody actually existing with that level of confidence.
4. Explores a lot of themes that tend to go ignored in Chinese society. I appreciate the attempt at depth which really isn't that present in Zhu Yi's other novel to drama adaptations.
Anyhow, I did find myself (someone who typically isn't too bothered by plot holes) seeing a lot of problems with this drama.
1. I don't think the characters themselves and their interactions had a lot of depth. I understand that Sang Yan is written in the novel as the character he is here, but there's no real explanation (besides the fact that she's beautiful) for why Sang Yan has such unrequited love for Wen Yifan for so long. The "angelic" BGM for whenever he sees Wen Yifan is pretty overused and corny too, in a way. Additionally— for two supposedly incredibly intelligent characters— Sang Yan and Wen Yifan do not have very many intelligent/interesting interactions that aren't corny or sweet (I actually think that Hidden Love had more reasonable development, in this respect. I understood how Duan Jiaxu started liking Sang Zhi a little better, and the characters just felt more consistent).
2. The pacing felt a little messy to me. I think a lot of scenes could be cut short, especially since so many are just focused on Sang Yan obsessing over Wen Yifan. Additionally, the Su Hao'an and Zhong Siqiao side couple seemed to divert focus from the main leads... I think the amount of ideas that the directing/producing team tried to put into this were great though not incredibly well-executed.
3. The script felt awkward. I think a lot of it is immediately adapted from Zhu Yi's novel, though. I didn't have this problem with "When I Fly Towards You" (which I think is still the best Zhu Yi novel to drama adaptation to date).
4. Some of the plots just don't make enough sense for me to believe them. When Wen Yifan escapes for 1.5 years in Hong Kong just to avoid hurting the people she loves, the way she gets back together with her friends and Sang Yan one miraculous day (after ~400 more with NO change of mind) felt rushed. There was no arc or development to the story here, which made the character feel shallow and "unalive."
4. I love Zhang Ruonan's acting... But, I think they could've gotten a dancer to do the dancing scenes (which were a little awkward, especially for a professional ballerina). This really broke some of the immersion and believability in the storytelling.
I know many people really appreciated this drama, so if you're into this sort of thing, I'd give it a try. But considering how long I waited for this (after Hidden Love and WIFTY I was expecting something exceptional), I felt a little underwhelmed : _ )
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Gorgeously off the rails
PROS:- Most beautiful cinematography, costume designing, and production out of ALL the C-dramas I've seen. Obviously meticulous work was done in order to achieve the stunning visual effects (enhanced by the OST).
- Beautiful OST. I didn't find it so beautiful when I first listened to it (without the drama), but it melded impeccably with the drama's scenes. Most of the OSTs were used, too, so I wasn't left wondering why I didn't hear something when listening to the track list afterward.
- Good acting. I think this is one of Hou Minghao's strongest and most layered performances and encouraged me to look into his other dramas. As for the other actors, I think they all did the part that they could with the script (largely focused on ML alone; few other characters had any sort of development or growth).
- Good exploration of friendship between ML and 2ML. A lot of chemistry is in this performance, and I can actually see how the friendship developed.
- The humor is unmatched, especially if you're decently fluent in Chinese (I think the humor is on par with Falling Into Your Smile, which is a seriously funny drama).
CONS:
- Disjointed storyline largely reliant on flashbacks, side plots, and magical objects (which the fate of the world depends on, but they break super easily). I lost track of what was going on and the explanations for all the random scenes by Ep. 23 (?) Up until Ep. 10 though, I thought the story was wonderful. Beyond that, it barely passes as "cohesive."
- Too many people died for no particular purpose. A lot of tragedies happened in this drama, but I don't think they enhanced it in any way. Too much of something tragic/beautiful makes nothing tragic/beautiful at all. Additionally, there wasn't enough character development for me to feel attached to any of the characters besides ML so their deaths were "just another death."
- FL development in the script was terrible. I'm sure Chen Duling did what was asked of her, but there wasn't really much for her to work with. The FL's presence + romance feels a little like the director's afterthought (though I do think the romance was more developed than many viewers claim and occupied a decent number of scenes).
- A lot of missing/unbelievable character actions/explanations. Why was the main antagonist for 15 episodes redeemed? Nobody saw his change of mind until he actually acted upon it, and that left very little development for the actual "main villain."
COMPARISON TO SIMILAR C-DRAMAS:
1. Till the End of the Moon (Bai Lu/Luo Yunxi) compared to Fangs of Fortune
- Heavier on the romance
- Better written female lead and overall more cohesive plot
- Less beautiful visuals + cinematography; a lot of it is a LOT overdone (blood vomiting)
- Similar presence of side stories though generally less important side characters
- OST in FoF is more suitable/enjoyable IMO
- Similar tragic ML, though I think the ML here is less psychotic/intense
Personally, I think they're on a pretty similar level quality-wise.
TLDR; I thought this was a decently good drama because it was beautiful to look at (hats off to the costume designers, cinematographers, and everyone involved in that). It was enough to keep me watching, but do note that the story and character development arcs are pretty poorly done besides for the ML.
Do note that I did think about this drama for a very long time afterward and had trouble watching any other drama's cinematography (this was pretty insane). I'd give it a watch, and I do find myself going back to certain episodes/scenes to watch it again.
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It's a lot.... but yes, we got through it :)
I think this had an interesting direction. I was wondering how they were going to incorporate medical and crime and romance all together, but I'd just label this mostly a romance drama. Anyhow, my thoughts are pretty simple here:1. Acting is pretty good and I like the lead couple and 3rd lead couple. There's a lot of communication and chemistry in these relationships, as well as cuteness. Obstacles have NOTHING on Xing Kelei and Mi Ka. I really appreciate the realism in the portrayal of first love (shy, a little bashful).
2. Pacing and story are a little muddled though. There are super long arcs, the second lead couple just made me skip all their scenes and the story doesn't really effectively navigate crime and medical arcs. They don't feel necessary, to be honest, and that bothers me a little. Just a tad?
I think if you do something in a drama, do it well. If not, don't do it at all. I do also think the romance did get in the way of realism for depicting special forces and hospital activity. I think the drama definitely serves in bringing your attention to first responders, but it's pretty damn romanticized.
3. I did watch all of it. It's pretty binge-worthy, and I am a binger. I did keep on pressing the forward five seconds button though :/
I could honestly see myself rewatching this.
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Your reunion with family and life dramas
This one is pretty popular in the mainland, but ceases in popularity here. I think that's unfortunate. Huang Lei and Hai Qing (as well as all the other actors) are a masterclass for acting, and the easygoing storyline hides intricately written character development for both the students and their parents going through the 'gaokao' (college testing) period of their life.There's a lot of themes explored here too, including depression, stress, parental pressures, single parenthood, etc. It all comes together wonderfully to make a heart-warming yet sometimes heart wrenching drama.
My only criticism is that this drama does get into nitty gritty things. I think that it's kind of the point with a drama like this, but I find family dramas have the potential for a lot of fluff for how much substance they have. Here, the fluff is interesting, but it doesn't mean it's necessary.
For OST lovers, the OST is fine, but not great... I don't think this drama focused its budget on the OST more so than the actors (a lot of famous veterans here).
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Cute dumpster fire that I couldn't summarize even if you asked me to
One-dimensional characters, unresolved love triangles, miscommunication break-ups, foolish FL, typical CEO ML, cliche plot done badly, know-it-all BFF who knows nothing, dragging, dragging, dragging plot...If you like this, I don't know what to tell you. If you don't, you probably shouldn't watch this drama unless you're trying to support some of the actors (who honestly did fine, the script was just... unbearable).
I did like Qin Shiyue though, and I liked how Shen Yujie portrayed her. Will keep looking out for this rising actress because she's adorable : )
These dramas make me wish that good actors and actresses could genuinely get good, thought-provoking plots sometimes. You know?
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