Although I find the pacing of this show a bit on the slower side, there's an understated lyricism in the way the various story threads are woven together. This show is focused more on thematic development rather than on some more dramatic character or plot moments (at least so far).
From Ep 1, Kang Hyo Min states that people ultimately turn to the law when they've been hurt to the point (or lost something such as happiness) where they feel they have no where else to go. Each case highlights this in a different way. Simultaneously, we get insights into our main cast - their past, their struggles, and their growth (and it's related in some way thematically to the cases per episode). It's not easy to write in this way, and some episodes are definitely more successful than others at it, but I'm really enjoying this so far. At the very least, it's been a nice workplace type drama - not overly focused on romance and also not overly bogged down by being a procedural drama.
But I agree with some comments below, in this second half, we need some conflict, some build up to a climax, so I'm wondering what that would look like.
I'm only ep 2, but what am I watching LOL? It's like a superhero show mixed with ancient China. That sounds crazy, but it's actually entertaining so far.
No we couldn’t see her do that because that would make us happy and apparently we can’t have that for the…
LOL. Honestly, after all she goes through, it would be a meaningful ending for her to be seen with all her great-grandchildren (or something of the like). But whatever.
I’ll speak for myself, I was not asking for a happy ending with everyone singing and dancing in circles. I understand…
I agree that there are some very blatant writing problems with the show. It works best when it is focusing on the characters and their struggle (so the first half was really on point), but then it doesn't really combine the more political stuff later on very well. I feel like we are somewhat forced to feel a certain way for some characters, when in fact I don't care much for them because there hasn't been any actual time spend on developing the character (example: Fei Wendian).
can someone tell me why this is sad ending? Spoil me please because I want to know if I can deal with the ending.…
The drama is set in 1920s-1930s China, which is a time of great upheaval (war, political change, etc). Although the story is set mostly in a small farming village, it too is touched by what's going on in the world at the time. It would be odd if there weren't some deaths/tragic endings for some characters.
Unfortunately in the last 10 episodes, the storyline has become more hackneyed, the characters more sanctimonious - just doesn’t feel like the first half of the show.
From Ep 1, Kang Hyo Min states that people ultimately turn to the law when they've been hurt to the point (or lost something such as happiness) where they feel they have no where else to go. Each case highlights this in a different way. Simultaneously, we get insights into our main cast - their past, their struggles, and their growth (and it's related in some way thematically to the cases per episode). It's not easy to write in this way, and some episodes are definitely more successful than others at it, but I'm really enjoying this so far. At the very least, it's been a nice workplace type drama - not overly focused on romance and also not overly bogged down by being a procedural drama.
But I agree with some comments below, in this second half, we need some conflict, some build up to a climax, so I'm wondering what that would look like.