Great drama. In contrary to most people, I actually very much prefer part 2 to part 1. Although there are many romantic elements in part 1, I felt that part one is more focused on background and plot, and there are too many unnecessary scenes. Part 2 felt to me more romance focused, short and sweet and I enjoyed it more.
One thing I noticed is when I read the synopsis for this drama, it sounded very mysterious, but as I watched on, it just felt like a normal drama - the whole alchemy of souls concept sounds very grand and interesting, but the presentation of it was not what I expected (abit underwhelming?) I'm not sure if this is good or bad.
Parts which I like: - excellent romance, build up was very well done, no premature love scenes. I thought this was the kind of romance drama which has very little romance and more on the main plot, but it surprised me pleasantly.
Parts which I do not like: - season 1 should have been 12-16 episodes, felt a lot of the middle episodes were filler - too much comedic elements in season 1 - I understand a lot of ppl actually like this but I felt that this drama should have been a bit more mysterious and dark theme-ed
Is there romance in this and if there is is it like light or heavy? Also heard there is a season 2 so should I just wait for that before watching? I don't like to end a drama on unfinished business unless no choice
I really really liked CZY in our secret, but here I did not feel that he suit the role. It felt like he was just going through motions to finish the drama. Not much plot. A decent romance drama with decent chemistry, but nothing amazing.
One of the best dramas I've watched (I've watched a lot). Finished watching in 3 and half days. Deserves a 8.8/8.9 rating on MDL. 1. One of, if not THE BEST chemistry between the main leads. SO SO Much chemistry, especially the way they look at each other. 2. Pacing of story is excellent - Personally really liked how the main leads got together not so soon and there was a build up to it (excluding flashback scenes). Always felt if the last few episodes were just sweet nothings it will just turn boring. 3. Zhang Jing Yi - she owned the Zhu Yun role. 4. There are so many scenes of the main leads together with so many precious moments, building up their affection for each other. Many romance dramas tend to become overly focused on the "plot" and end up using way too many scenes for "revenge" or "politics" and whatnot but I felt this drama did not lose romance as a main anchoring theme. 5. The intro (1st ep) of the drama hooked me in - the mysterious and captivating camerawork and flashbacks coupled by the way Lixun looked at Zhuyun at the cafe and how zhuyun looked at lixun at the end of episode made me realise this was gonna be a drama with a lot of love and backstory that I would binge watch until 2-3 am.
A few small thoughts on the things in the drama that I didn't like as much (I feel all dramas have some flaws unless it is really really really well done) 1. I felt that Lixun's character was maybe slightly over the top. Like I get his character is supposed to be this arrogant, smart and cool person that is like a Jerk, and his charisma is based off that character design, but I felt how he treated Zhu Yun throughout the show was a little too Jerk-ish. Like I love how he genuinely cares for her through the small actions but there are many scenes where he could have done more for her. But of course overall their chemistry is one of the best if not THE BEST i've seen so this is just a small small thought of mine. 2. Although I've mentioned that the intro hooked me in, but I am not a big fan of spending 22 episodes in "flashback" scenes. I understand that this is probably the only way of telling the story, and is needed, but it just kinda feels weird, if you know what I mean.
😮 ohhhh I wonder if we are watching the same thing. Here’s two different perpectives. Let me just say..agree…
You can refer to my reply to @HookedByLLTG regarding my take on this. Honestly Idk why yall think i dislike this drama when I just find it "overrated". That's also why i used TBH to start my comment because it's like I know its a great drama and I don't want to criticise it much but I just wanna point out those main points.
😮 ohhhh I wonder if we are watching the same thing. Here’s two different perpectives. Let me just say..agree…
Hahaha, good analogy, but I hate instant noodles kinda dramas too and stay away from cliches (unless I am really bored and have nth better to do or watch). btw I'm not even saying i dislike this drama - i find it pretty decent but not 9.0/10 kinda good, that's why i use the word "overrated". Handmade noodles made with blood sweat and tears, with good technique, dedication and patience, will definitely bring out the best flavour, but if you twist or fold the noodles without an end goal, the end product might not necessarily be great. Some slow and thought provoking dramas that I watched- just to name a few, Nirvana in Fire, Joy of Life, The Long Ballad made me really appreciate how the slow pace of the drama managed to lay the foundation for a greater plot line, but I just did not feel the same way with this drama. But after all, this is just my POV :)
I just can't understand few people who think that if they don't like the drama then that particular drama must…
I'm not saying I don't like the drama, in fact I think it is pretty decent. Overrated means rated too highly, I compare a MDL score of 9.0/10 for this drama( which is ridiculously high by MDL standards), to Joy of life (9.0/10), Nirvana in Fire (9.1/10). Just because everyone loves it and rates it highly doesn't mean it is not overrated. Do you honestly think this drama is comparable to Joy of life or Nirvana in Fire?
Some enjoy fast pace while other enjoy slow. One thing I really like about this drama is the fact that we can…
I enjoy both kinds of drama, as long as the drama is good. I think this drama is decent, but is not a 9.0/10 MDL rating kind of good, but I know most people really like this, so i'm justing saying my POV. I mean 9.0/10 kind of good is like nirvana in fire, or joy of life. And regarding the slow part, with regards to my second point, I'm just saying it's slow for no reason, and there is not great plot progression, things are happening quite randomly with nothing to anticipate. compared to nirvana in fire, or Joy of life, no matter how slow the plot gets, you will still be excited because you know that the slow pace is laying the foundation for something greater to come. I get that the story kinda needs to be this slow to see the character development, but I feel the execution could have been better. So I'm just saying it's overrated in terms of 9.0/10 on MDL.
😮 ohhhh I wonder if we are watching the same thing. Here’s two different perpectives. Let me just say..agree…
I like slow paced dramas too. For this case I agree its very obvious the ML liked the FL from the start, and maybe the FL kinda liked the ML but is not aware of her feelings (or maybe at that point she has not yet "liked the ML") but to just propose to her without asking for her feelings - then making her family so anxious coz they know what kind of treatment she might be getting in the palace - is just kinda weird to me.
TBH this drama to me is overrated and overhyped - 2 main reasons 1) I did not feel the love connection between the leads at the first part - when ML asked to marry FL in front of the emperor, it was so weird - there was no love build up at all - sure there were a few scenes of them tgt, but far too little and far too inadequate - just compare this to a dream of splendor - a dream of splendor u can really appreciate and feel the love the leads have for each other before they got tgt 2) The pacing of the story - way too slow. And I felt that there was no plot progression - things just randomly happen without reason - there was nothing to anticipate, no major events, no milestone, nothing.
Literally just created an account to post this: This drama does not deserve 7.9! I've watched many c-dramas and k-dramas and this drama rating is about 8.7 to me on MDL.
really sweet and cute romance drama.
Score is not too high as concept is rather straightforward, nothing special about the plot, but is not low as execution is great.
Ending is one of the best I've seen
Great drama.
In contrary to most people, I actually very much prefer part 2 to part 1. Although there are many romantic elements in part 1, I felt that part one is more focused on background and plot, and there are too many unnecessary scenes. Part 2 felt to me more romance focused, short and sweet and I enjoyed it more.
One thing I noticed is when I read the synopsis for this drama, it sounded very mysterious, but as I watched on, it just felt like a normal drama - the whole alchemy of souls concept sounds very grand and interesting, but the presentation of it was not what I expected (abit underwhelming?) I'm not sure if this is good or bad.
Parts which I like:
- excellent romance, build up was very well done, no premature love scenes. I thought this was the kind of romance drama which has very little romance and more on the main plot, but it surprised me pleasantly.
Parts which I do not like:
- season 1 should have been 12-16 episodes, felt a lot of the middle episodes were filler
- too much comedic elements in season 1 - I understand a lot of ppl actually like this but I felt that this drama should have been a bit more mysterious and dark theme-ed
Not much plot.
A decent romance drama with decent chemistry, but nothing amazing.
Deserves a 8.8/8.9 rating on MDL.
1. One of, if not THE BEST chemistry between the main leads. SO SO Much chemistry, especially the way they look at each other.
2. Pacing of story is excellent - Personally really liked how the main leads got together not so soon and there was a build up to it (excluding flashback scenes). Always felt if the last few episodes were just sweet nothings it will just turn boring.
3. Zhang Jing Yi - she owned the Zhu Yun role.
4. There are so many scenes of the main leads together with so many precious moments, building up their affection for each other. Many romance dramas tend to become overly focused on the "plot" and end up using way too many scenes for "revenge" or "politics" and whatnot but I felt this drama did not lose romance as a main anchoring theme.
5. The intro (1st ep) of the drama hooked me in - the mysterious and captivating camerawork and flashbacks coupled by the way Lixun looked at Zhuyun at the cafe and how zhuyun looked at lixun at the end of episode made me realise this was gonna be a drama with a lot of love and backstory that I would binge watch until 2-3 am.
A few small thoughts on the things in the drama that I didn't like as much (I feel all dramas have some flaws unless it is really really really well done)
1. I felt that Lixun's character was maybe slightly over the top. Like I get his character is supposed to be this arrogant, smart and cool person that is like a Jerk, and his charisma is based off that character design, but I felt how he treated Zhu Yun throughout the show was a little too Jerk-ish. Like I love how he genuinely cares for her through the small actions but there are many scenes where he could have done more for her. But of course overall their chemistry is one of the best if not THE BEST i've seen so this is just a small small thought of mine.
2. Although I've mentioned that the intro hooked me in, but I am not a big fan of spending 22 episodes in "flashback" scenes. I understand that this is probably the only way of telling the story, and is needed, but it just kinda feels weird, if you know what I mean.
Do you honestly think this drama is comparable to Joy of life or Nirvana in Fire?
2 main reasons
1) I did not feel the love connection between the leads at the first part - when ML asked to marry FL in front of the emperor, it was so weird - there was no love build up at all - sure there were a few scenes of them tgt, but far too little and far too inadequate - just compare this to a dream of splendor - a dream of splendor u can really appreciate and feel the love the leads have for each other before they got tgt
2) The pacing of the story - way too slow. And I felt that there was no plot progression - things just randomly happen without reason - there was nothing to anticipate, no major events, no milestone, nothing.
This drama does not deserve 7.9! I've watched many c-dramas and k-dramas and this drama rating is about 8.7 to me on MDL.