This review may contain spoilers
We were fine with Season 1’s ending (we just didn’t know it yet)
As I finished the last episode, Bu Bu Jing Xin, to me, felt like the perfect example of a series that would fit perfectly with a reincarnation plot.
Unfortunately, the drama ended up being one of those that shouldn’t have had a sequel at all.
The first warning things might not turn out the way I expected probably came with the very first chapter, where the “reincarnation” plot was transformed into some kind of “dream during MC’s coma about an actual drama airing in her time” (?!).
I understand the production was doing the best they could with how censorship did not allow ttansmigration plots to be aired anymore, but the problem is how this main story line was developed (or not at all).
Ruoxi’s last words in BBJX are about how tired and disconnected she felt, how she just wished to let go and not remember them anymore. She was a woman that went through pain, torture, lost, love and heartbreak and that, at the end, just wanted peace.
“I hope I do not remember any of you”.
Cuts to the present, she sees Present!Fourth Prince and acts like her soulmate came knocking like what?!?!?! Are we going to wash away an entire LIFETIME of trauma she went through????
Her character had grown so much, and for some reason I felt the continuity didn’t make it justice.
The Prince’s characters were another problem.
Tong Hua wrote the brothers beautifully so we would love and ache for all of them. Even as the Eight Prince became the antagonist, I could understand his actions and his resentment with the Fourth Prince - we could all sympathize with them.
In this second season, it felt like if the Present!Prince was not falling in love with Present!Ruoxi, he didn't really exist for the story as a full being.
The storyline in itself was also all over the place after the first couple chapters. With how the drama was written, at chapter 15 there was no feeling of connection with season 1 anymore.
It’s like the past didn’t create any waves. The characters weren’t really allowed to expand and develop beyond what they had been in their previous lives.
As I said I wouldn’t expect Present!Ruoxi to be so eager to meet again… And how their relationship developed, it felt like the connection that made me love her and the Forth Prince just wasn't there anymore.
The twin debacle for me was the icing on the cake of a drama that already didn't know where it was going anymore - and that's probably the main issue for me.
At a certain point, I didn't know what story I was watching. The chapters came and went with this feeling of disconnection not only with S1, but with the main plot itself.
The overall acting was very good, and there ARE scenes I enjoyed and that made me smile, but even the actors doing the best they could wasn’t enough to carry the drama.
If you watch it as a stand alone, then I guess it’s an okay drama - but as a second season to Bu Bu Jing Xin it really didn’t measure up.
In short, whatever happened with Scarlet Heart 2, it's a mix of wasted potential and what felt like unnecessary plot twist to give it even more drama.
Unfortunately, the drama ended up being one of those that shouldn’t have had a sequel at all.
The first warning things might not turn out the way I expected probably came with the very first chapter, where the “reincarnation” plot was transformed into some kind of “dream during MC’s coma about an actual drama airing in her time” (?!).
I understand the production was doing the best they could with how censorship did not allow ttansmigration plots to be aired anymore, but the problem is how this main story line was developed (or not at all).
Ruoxi’s last words in BBJX are about how tired and disconnected she felt, how she just wished to let go and not remember them anymore. She was a woman that went through pain, torture, lost, love and heartbreak and that, at the end, just wanted peace.
“I hope I do not remember any of you”.
Cuts to the present, she sees Present!Fourth Prince and acts like her soulmate came knocking like what?!?!?! Are we going to wash away an entire LIFETIME of trauma she went through????
Her character had grown so much, and for some reason I felt the continuity didn’t make it justice.
The Prince’s characters were another problem.
Tong Hua wrote the brothers beautifully so we would love and ache for all of them. Even as the Eight Prince became the antagonist, I could understand his actions and his resentment with the Fourth Prince - we could all sympathize with them.
In this second season, it felt like if the Present!Prince was not falling in love with Present!Ruoxi, he didn't really exist for the story as a full being.
The storyline in itself was also all over the place after the first couple chapters. With how the drama was written, at chapter 15 there was no feeling of connection with season 1 anymore.
It’s like the past didn’t create any waves. The characters weren’t really allowed to expand and develop beyond what they had been in their previous lives.
As I said I wouldn’t expect Present!Ruoxi to be so eager to meet again… And how their relationship developed, it felt like the connection that made me love her and the Forth Prince just wasn't there anymore.
The twin debacle for me was the icing on the cake of a drama that already didn't know where it was going anymore - and that's probably the main issue for me.
At a certain point, I didn't know what story I was watching. The chapters came and went with this feeling of disconnection not only with S1, but with the main plot itself.
The overall acting was very good, and there ARE scenes I enjoyed and that made me smile, but even the actors doing the best they could wasn’t enough to carry the drama.
If you watch it as a stand alone, then I guess it’s an okay drama - but as a second season to Bu Bu Jing Xin it really didn’t measure up.
In short, whatever happened with Scarlet Heart 2, it's a mix of wasted potential and what felt like unnecessary plot twist to give it even more drama.
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