Hope to see more of both Ding Yuxi and Ancy Deng in the future!
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This review may contain spoilers
Nirvana not to be found in this lifetime
Enemies to friends to lovers - a simple way to think of this story, but there is much more to enjoy about this drama than the two leads falling for each other. In fact, there are truly three leads in this story - and the interconnectedness of their lives and fates really drives this story forward as they learn to love and fight for what is right in a world of deceit in the quest for power.The story sags a bit towards the end - I feel the whole war with the state of Wei was unnecessary. There is no build up with the king/emperor of Wei, and I would have rather the story focused on the complicated emperor of Liang instead. And while I would have liked for a better end for Wei Zhao, there was probably no feasible way for him to be alive after what he does to the emperor.
Be warned: the first 10 or so episodes have some hard-to-watch moments as the male and female leads go at each other while being enemies - some of it is downright torture. It's a testament to the pacing and development of their relationship and the actors' performances to make their romance eventually believable with some palpable chemistry.
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Even gods and immortals have growing pains
Based upon the novel “Hidden God” (which I never read), this is a sequel to Ancient Love Poetry (with different names for the drama, which is a little confusing). There is nothing particularly groundbreaking about this Xianxia drama, but I found it to be a warm, heartfelt and timeless story of the joys and pains of growing up - learning to love, learning to sacrifice and learning to treasure what you have.To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about starting this drama initially. I’ve watched some Xianxia in the past but not as many in the past couple of years. The beginning episodes of this one reminded me of some of the earlier Harry Potter films - lackluster CGI, very young characters and a seemingly simplistic story. However, the strong performances from the cast drew me in, and by the midway point of the drama, you realize there is much more to this tale. While the story centers on Yuanqi and Fengyin’s love story, there are also many other moving story lines involving friendship and kinship. Interwoven are some themes about breaking down the barriers that divide us, cherishing all life, and not using one’s power or position to bully the weak.
This one could have used more post-production time to smooth out the visual effects and sound mix. More importantly, the script could have used another look over to flesh out the deeper thematic elements. However, I found this an engaging, wholesome watch during my winter holidays. There is something ultimately uplifting in this drama’s storytelling despite the many years of suffering experienced by the characters.
Lastly, this is my first time watching Wang Anyu as Gujin/Yuanqi, and his non-pretentious, boyish charm really fits the character well. He and Zhao Lusi make an endearing on-screen couple that brings you both joy and tears. If only there was more of them at the end - maybe another drama? Until then, this is a great one to binge, re-watch and for me sits well with my all-time favorite Xianxia dramas such as Eternal Love (Peach Blossoms), Ashes of Love, Love and Destiny, Love and Redemption and yes, Ancient Love Poetry.
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The cycles of history
Set during the latter half of the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Swords into Plowshares endeavors to condense several decades of turmoil into a cohesive story. For the most part, it succeeds as a well-produced historical epic, anchoring the story around a few historical figures - Qian Chu of Wuyue, his wife Sun Taizhen, Zhao Kuangyin of Song and Guo Rong (Chai Rong) of Later Zhou.The first 12 episodes or so are some of my favorite - bold, devastating and moving in its depiction of the wanton slaughter and abuse of the common people as the Central Plains exchanged one ruler for another. There are also moments of human triumph some to arise out of that destruction and usher in a semblance of peace and order. But mankind is fickle, and human nature is not easily overcome. Until the final frame, our main characters face struggle after another in order to bring about a "year of peace."
A few historical figures are unfortunately whitewashed to fit an overall narrative of unifying the lands for peace, but the drama is overall still a respectable attempt to faithfully depict an often overlooked period of Chinese history. The script at its best waxes philosophical regarding varying viewpoints regarding human governance, and its strong use of classical Chinese is a much needed breath of fresh air in this age of idol dramas. It may too dense for some, but the cast deftly bring their characters to life, and one can simply follow their emotional journey fairly well even if much of the detail in the dialogue escapes them.
As a longtime enjoyer of historical dramas - from any country or language - I hope to see more in this vein from C drama land.
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Unfortunately a failed gambit
Having not read the original novel that the drama is based on, I can judge based only on what I saw in watching this - and boy, was it a frustrating watch. There are elements of the story that could have been developed to become a truly trilling story, but the script decides to jump from plot to plot without respecting the characters, especially in the second half of the story. The best story line was between male lead Shen Zaiye, with a secret backstory and identity, and Mu Wuxia, the noble and upright 4th prince. If Mu Wuyin and Empress Lv's story were fleshed out more and the structure moved around a little, it probably would made for a more thrilling and compelling climax. But as it is presented, I feel nothing for Empress Lv, and Mu Wuyin is reduced to a strange, psychotic small-minded man.The cast is certainly capable of better, and Liu Xueyi certainly does his best to make Shen Zaiye a living, breathing character. Unfortunately, there is not much to work with, and Meng Ziyi probably suffers more because the characterization of Jiang Taohua is very poorly done. The direction is also somewhat uninspired - lackluster action pieces and discordant music make this an overall unpalatable watch for those wanting a truly exciting political and romantic period piece. Still, the first half makes for a fun light watch, so if you are a fan of the any of the cast, it may still have something worth checking out.
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This review may contain spoilers
I really wanted to love this season of Lost You Forever. The first one was achingly beautiful - the dangerous, chaotic world of Dahuang was brought to life. Against the backdrop of such a world was our incredible cast of characters, yearning for healing and life, striving to achieve a world where everyone could live in peace and happiness but finding it very difficult to do so.Season 2 picks up where the first left off. Xiaoyao is betrothed to marry Chishui Fenglong, Cang Xuan’s confidante and a buddy of Jing’s. The wedding fails to go through when the charismatic Fangfeng Bei gloriously crashes it and takes the bride away. What ensues are many twists and turns before Xiaoyao can find her happiness.
This story continues with our brother and sister duo to their respective ends - but the drama is not exactly the story originally laid out in the novel of the same name. Notably, the character of Cang Xuan is significantly altered, and it is from here that I feel a lot of the missteps in this season originate from. We are teased with a dream/illusion sequence that follows the novel, but since it did not truly happen, the last section of episodes start to unravel in logic and dramatic tension.
Warning: major spoilers ahead.
In the novel, it is Cang Xuan who joins forces with Tushan Hou to do away with Jing out of jealousy. Here, it is Chenrong Xinyue, the Empress, who is the main culprit. Because of this change, Xinyue becomes yet another one-dimensional villainess, and Cang Xuan essentially is not allowed his character arc as in the novel. Instead, he is inserted into scenes where other main characters should have been highlighted, and the end result is a bit of a muddled narrative. Story themes, character arcs and just plain exciting moments are lost in translation.
Ultimately, all of the foreshadowing and build up of Cang Xuan’s jealousy of Jing and of his desire to possess Xiaoyao do not really get to go anywhere satisfying. The power of raw emotion in the illusion episodes is quite effecting (if a bit overdone), but alas, it dissipates after Cang Xuan wakes up from his tea-induced illusion. More importantly, the use of an illusion sequence makes a lot of the rest of the scenes devoid of the tension and urgency seen in the novel. There is no shock when he confesses his love to Xiaoyao. There is no urgency or poignancy to Xiang Liu saving Jing (because Cang Xuan is actively searching for Jing here in the drama as well). And there is no urgency for Jing to return when Xiaoyao is at Jade Mountain before she becomes the next Queen Mother. There is ultimately no reason for Jing and XY to disappear from CX - and there is not the pain felt on the part of the audience, which was so heartbreakingly conveyed in the novel - that eternal sense of longing, missing and losing her forever.
The cast do their best with the much weakened script - but one can only make screaming, throwing tantrums or standing there without lines or purpose in a scene really that interesting.
If you enjoyed season 1, this is still a decent watch to see Tushan Jing finally work together with Xiaoyao to get back at Yiying and Hou. A’Nian, Ru Shou and some other supporting characters (Lirong Chang) also are a delight to watch. Fenglong and Xiang Liu’s deaths also leave a strong mark. However, if you are fan of the original novel, there is no balm, medicine or poison that can soothe one’s disappointment in not seeing a truly faithful adaptation come alive on screen. Perhaps it is best to say the opportunity was there, but it is now lost forever.
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Friends, foes and lovers
The first half of this drama is a solidly entertaining watch, as you follow enemies-to-lovers pair Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao joining hands to figure out how to make their way in the world and how to fight for their kingdoms. The second half is marred by sensational writing and directing with some over-the-top performances from an otherwise solid cast. I liken watching this drama to gorging oneself on junk food or candy. It's definitely yummy and sweet for a while, but you end up with a headache or stomachache afterwards.I wonder if it is the trend these days in Chinese drama land. I feel almost embarrassed for these actors to have to work with such scripts. Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan definitely make the most of it here, as their performances really carry this show, enabling the audience to stay invested in them even though the multitude of characters surrounding them are engaged in really out there shenanigans. Hopefully idol period dramas (or just period dramas) in the future invest more care into their scripts.
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Finding your own path
Adapted from the novel of the same name, Love of the Divine Tree is at face value not much different from your average xianxia story. There are immortal and demonic cultivators, master-disciple relationship stories, love trials, and an ultimate baddie trying to destroy the world.What is delightfully surprising to me about this drama is that there is a real earnestness in telling a story with developed characters and themes, brought to life by a young but talented cast led by Deng Wei and Julia Xiang. Their master-disciple love story is full of twists and turns, reflecting life's inevitable ebbs and flows and ups and downs. Thus is the core of this drama's main theme - finding one's path in life is built up on the past but not beholden to it. The past is gone, and the future is unknown. All we can know is the present, and we must learn how to cherish it. Living in regret or obsession over what is lost or not ours will not only lead to our own downfall but also the destruction of everything we hold dear.
In addition to this core story embodied by our main leads (and second leads) are many wonderful supporting characters that feel developed, relevant and ultimately endearing by the end of the drama. Wei Jiu, the would-be villain, is hilarious in this show, and Su Yishui's disciples get their time to shine throughout the drama.
A pleasing OST and production round out a very satisfying watching experience. Although not earth-shatteringly novel as far as storytelling, this drama is nonetheless a beautifully crafted epic fantasy that deserves a place alongside my favorite xianxia dramas.
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Those who fight in the shadows
This is an entertaining if flawed revenge story that moves relentlessly throughout its 28 episodes. There is intrigue, action and heartbreak as much of Chang'an is filled with the blood of seemingly countless unnamed soldiers and spies. It all ends almost too abruptly, with some loose ends unexplained, leaving an empty space and a sense of unattained purpose. Of note, this review is based on only the 28 standard episodes, not including the special epilogue episode, which apparently sets things up for a hypothetical second season.Multiple seasons notwithstanding, any season or story should be that - a full story with beginning, middle and end. And the beginning half of this drama is certainly the main highlight - a classic revenge tale of a young boy's family wiped out by a traitor among his father's army's ranks. The antagonist, Yan Fengshan, is certainly the more interesting of the two main antagonists, and one could argue that the story should have focused on him rather than another. Indeed, when the focus shifts in the latter 1/3, one begins to see how storylines and character arcs are not fully developed. More importantly, other than a general sense that vengeance and murder beget more violence and destroyed lives, not much else is explored adequately. Other revenge stories such as Nirvana in Fire or even this year's Legend of Zang Hai had much more elegantly worked out scripts that allowed for characters and themes to resonate.
Indeed, 28 episodes is not enough to flesh out everything this ambitious script likely set out to do (I recall that NIF was at least twice as long). If there is a second season, hopefully that could be rectified. There's still much to enjoy, including some excellent action sequences and the work of many seasoned actors. Of the "younger" cast, Zhou Qi as Xiao Wenjing and Ye Zuxin as Gu Yu stand out.
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A troubled palace
This drama looks pretty but is lacking in some key areas as far as storytelling. The drama simultaneously serves as a detective/case-breaking story as well as a classic revenge story of our female lead, Li Peiyi, niece to the emperor, whose entire family is wrongfully killed. The cases are the strong point of the drama, carrying emotional weight that builds to a point at the very end when Li Peiyi confronts the emperor defiantly. The revenge plot, however, is not well-constructed. The antagonists are not developed, and the political struggles are not even touched upon in this show, making it difficult for the audience to connect with the story beyond the superficial.Ultimately, Bai Lu and Wang Xingyue are not given enough in the script either to sculpt their characters or to nurture any kind of romantic chemistry (at least it did not work for me). In fact, the most passionate performances from Bai Lu in this show (again, for me at least) were her scenes with the the Right Chancellor and the emperor. If the end credits' tease is to be believed, further seasons could be coming. In my opinion, enough time has been spent in a palace filled literally with skeletons in the proverbial closet.
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Wasted potential
I have not read the source material, but from what I can tell, the drama has been so watered down/altered that it really cannot be considered a faithful adaptation. If you're hoping for a sophisticated, nuanced revenge drama, be prepared to be disappointed. There are some nice moments of drama interspersed throughout, and I did not mind some of the more comedic parts, but the drama as a whole seems disjointed in tone and lacking in a strong backbone of story and character for me to give it more than a 7. Not the worst I have seen, but definitely far from a masterpiece.Was this review helpful to you?
The enduring farming village
This is in many ways a richly-produced picture into life in a small farming village int he 1920s-1930s - filled with an varied assortment of characters not unlike a Dickensian novel. Brought to life by a wonderful cast, this drama was almost one of my favorites of the year until the halfway mark. The story then takes some unusual steps after that, introducing politics in a very preachy way with a lot of over-the-top dramatic moments as well in the individual storylines.Still, this is worth checking out if you want to explore this time period in a slightly different way (i.e. not your typical Republican era drama) and to see Yang Mi portray a very different kind of character. She and Ou Hao share great onscreen chemistry, and their story really does carry the entire drama, even with its faults.
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A disappointment
Disappointment is the first word that comes to mind when reflecting on watching this drama. For fans of the original novel, this is not the faithful adaptation you were hoping for. At best, this drama is loosely inspired by the novel. The first half of the drama is watchable when the story is centered on Amai, our fearless female lead, as she seeks revenge for her dead family at the hands of her onetime adopted older brother, Chen Qi. She manages to join the army, and her struggles and triumphs throughout those arcs of the story and the bonds she forges with her sworn brother, Tang Shaoyi, and her army buddies are fun and heartwarming to watch. Her entanglements with the charismatic enemy general Chang Yuqing are also highlights of the show.It is in the second half of the show that things really do fall apart. The story shifts focus to the male lead, Shang Yizhi (who is really Qi Huan, the son of the former crown prince), and having no solid character arc to lean upon, the story moves from one ridiculous political plot to another until the story goes up in flames at the very end. This is the show's greatest weakness: the writing of Yizhi's character. He begins as a "playboy" silly son of a marquis and becomes emperor almost by accident, but he has no real personality, drive or meat to his character other than the shell we are presented with. One simply does not care about what happens to him because everyone around him is far more interesting and key to moving the story along. He is simply along for the ride.
It is in the final few episodes that I really lost my patience with the ML. He betrays Amai firstly in marrying someone else and then betrays the Zhenbei army in the name of securing peace. At least in the end, Amai freed herself from him and was able to live her own life.
So proceed with caution in watching given the high risk of disappointment by the end, consider skipping most of the second half, or find another drama with better constructed characters and balance of story lines to fill your time. I found the music loud and grating most of the time, so there was not even that to soothe my angry soul by episode 36. It is my consideration of the generally great acting of the cast and the stronger first half that I offer a very general score of 7.5.
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A mixed bag
Filmed several years ago, this drama bears an air of nostalgia of past harem/palace dramas, especially in this first 1/3. Luo Qinglian unexpectedly finds herself forced in a position to become a servant-concubine of the third son of Prince An, and her story of surviving the treacherous life in He Lianxin's household thus begins.Unfortunately, her story never really soars as those of other strong female leads in other past palace/harem dramas such as Story of Yanxi Palace or The Sword and the Brocade. The drama tries to involve too much story - brothers fighting for the title of Prince, Qinglian's former lover Lv Beiyi's story, and the 11th hour secret oath our ML's father made to the Emperor to rescue him are just some of the other story lines. However, due to so much being edited out, the story is choppy and does not flow together well. It may have been better to end the drama around episode 30 when our ML achieves the title of Prince and focus on building the characters' relationships better.
What I am left with are some very nice moments of dramatic performances from a seasoned cast but an overall disappointing story structure, making it difficult to give this any more than a 7.5. It is perhaps higher than it should be, but I guess I do miss how dramas were shot in the past - a lot less crazy camera work and more focus on lighting and allowing the performances to breathe and speak for themselves. My favorite parts were the quieter scenes when the actors just are speaking/performing to each other.
If palace/harem dramas are your thing, you may want to check this out casually, but there are likely far better ones out there more worth your time.
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Some of the storylines did not make the greatest impact or meld well with each other (e.g. the office politics were a bit weak overall), but the human stories (about the different kinds of relationships we have in society) were some of the best parts of the drama. Great use of an almost atmospheric soundtrack complements a very lyrically-written show, but the show could use more pop and a better climax if a second season were to be made.
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