This drama is such a gem! Acting, characters, plot - everything is top-level. The aesthetic is very pretty despite the rustic/natural feel of it all, we are treated with some very beautiful shots, angles, lighting, and costumes. I never thought ancient Chinese taxes could be so entertaining, but here we are!
Zhang Ruoyun does a stellar job playing the ML, and I was happy to see a few familiar faces (Wang Yang and Wu Gang both starred with him in JOL). I do recommend this drama, it's just so good (and based on actual historical cases)
Wow, this drama really has outstanding visuals that give a heavy oldies wuxia vibe (especially with subdued colours). I love how the fights are choreographed and shot, there's something very intense and crisp about the way they're filmed. Being a wuxia fan, I just naturally paid attention to this part of the show, it was a pure delight, I also adore all the flying/twirling - it just looks badass, and in SSS it was depicted in a cool and elegant way - no silliness, not too much crazy CGI, only for the bigger fights which demand more grandeur.
The plot is extremely well-written, all the characters are well developed and the pace is slow enough to enjoy how each of them unravels. Zhang Ruoyun does a stellar job depicting Xu Feng Nian. XFN is not a chess piece from the very beginning, but we see him grow and break free from his father's way of dealing with things. His values are different, but he is still his father's son when it comes to acting quick and making hard decisions (and he's ruthless enough to make his enemies wary).
All the powerplay and scheming is smartly written and there wasn't a boring moment in the show. It does take quite a few episodes to get into what's going on because at first we see the ML acting a bit, slowly showing his true face. His romance with Jiang Ni is very sweet and pure. I don't know why people are talking about harem - it was clearly stated in the show and by the ML himself that he only keeps all those ladies and doesn't so much as even touch any of them. It was just to make everyone believe he's a careless playboy, when in fact he has always cared about Jiang Ni only.
I really recommend this drama - even without the season 2 it gives you some closure, and the show is too good and entertaining to miss it.
I watched seasons 1 + 2 back to back, and although in the second season, the pace changed considerably, it was still such an entertaining watch! The plot never dropped and was just as twisted and clever as in S1 (even more as we get to understand the deeper undercurrents of Emperor's plotting, as well as other characters). Also, the comedy is still golden in this one (especially the scenes with Wang QiNian, the actor portraying him is so-so funny!)
I also love Fan Xian's character development - he steadily goes deeper into this politics pit hole, learning how to deal with stuff along the way, but we can see how he's getting smarter about things, sometimes more ruthless, sometimes as cunning as the Emperor himself, but he still knows fully well the other players are playing way bigger than him (and it's OK). I loved how Papa Fan is always acting like his daddiest daddy, he's just such a cool and endearing father figure. Prime Minister Lin was also a very good mentor and teacher.
I'm getting a feeling the Emperor is the main baddie here (and he has something to do with FX's mother's death, but I didn't read the novel). Cheng Ping Ping is by far one of my most favorite morally grey characters ever written and acted (he almost certainly has his own agenda and it seems he plays along with the Emperor's schemes just to strike him at the right time with his revenge plot). He's scheming on a global level, but somehow he always manages to be on FX's side most of the time.
Anyway, it's been a fun ride, and all the plotting and backstabbing were truly top-notch, as well as acting and music.
Fan "You Have Your Mother's Eyes" Xian and the Harem of dudes left for him by his mother to deal with 😂 Seriously, this show is too good. I watched S1 + S2 in a row, this is pure delight. Unmatched acting, hilarious comedy, truly loveable/hateable characters, and plotting/backstabbing taken to a whole new level.
Also, it's one of the few series where I simply couldn't skip the opening thanks to OST - the song was so beautiful!
Wu Jin Yan and Wang Xing Yue are such a fun couple. I love their interview with Youku where they throw shade on…
I enjoyed their interviews as well, they're such easy-going people and so straightforward. I admired Wu Jinyan even more after seeing the BTS - the girl not only cries professionally, but she gets there emotionally as well (one scene I've seen her go hysterical, that's how deep she went for the role). They're both such professionals! I was so surprised to find out WXY is so young, but he's so good already, with so much screen presence. His personality matches his age, though XD so cute
Yeah the relationship between the princess and Shen was pretty much S&M
Oh, she was soooo believable, such a creepy vibe and she portrayed the role of s step-mom beautifully. Even when she ended up going crazy - her acting was superb, I didn't doubt it for a moment
it's the artist in this new director, he does everything with a flair, but no one gives him any credit, as if…
I actually enjoyed the aesthetics of the show so much! For some it may seem theatrical and over the top, but for me it was pure beauty with all the flowing hair/clothes and close up scenes (these especially, I've never seen any other show do it like this, it was super hot)
oh my goodness the dumb granny thing was completely messed up
yes, the show suddenly went all Game of Thrones on us and I immediately felt this guy will get a cruel ending (and I was right, the FL lead got all stabby, and for a good reason XD)
Definitely a must-watch drama. The leads are on fire - so much chemistry, character, and foxiness from both of them. Delicious lines, yummy not-so-obvious plot. Mind you, romance is not at the center of this revenge series, but it's done very intricately and delicately, and is very believable.
The murderous ex-husband also delivers a stellar performance - you can really see how conflicted he is about what he did, but he still goes far beyond redemption with the evil princess (his kinky love/hate relationship with her was also far from boring and you don't see something like this in cdramas a lot).
All the side characters play well (Tong'er so cute, and so are Duke Su's bodyguards, A-Li's evil mother from the Jiang family is so cunning and evil, with her own back story). All in all, the plot is actually very entertaining.
Visually, it's a masterpiece - I love the colors, floating hair/clothes, pretty lighting, and all those close-ups that really make the viewing experience more intimate (Wang Xing Yue's eyes are magnetic). I've never seen such a filming style before, it's quite refreshing, and overall the beauty and esthetic levels are high in this one.
I didn't mind the ending. They could skip the whole war thing, of course, but then we'd miss those cool fighting scenes and that moment when Xiao Heng takes the pendant given by A-Li into his mouth - oh boy, those were some pretty shots! So, from that aspect, I really don't mind the extra scenes. And they did end up getting back together, so no loss here))
This cdrama is worth every minute spent watching. No fast-forwarding, just pure fun, love, romance, great fighting sequences, and yes, lots of sad moments as well, but the script is so well-written that you just kind of accept that it's what it is. It's a very straightforward wuxia story about heroes (and unsung heroes) and people who just end up in a position of heroes because that's what everyone needs them to be. So despite the romance and comedy, some serious stuff is happening and countries need to be saved, and plots need to be plotted.
Amazing performance from all the cast, FL and ML are perfect for these roles. It's my first time seeing Liu Yuning act - he's so good! Has both the looks and the acting chops. Liu Shishi is stunning as an assassin, who is slowly learning what it is to love and have a relationship and be with friends. They have great chemistry, not to mention all the brothers from Liudao, I love each and every one of them. Such superbly written and acted characters!
The ending is sad, maybe it could have been different, but as a war story, you can expect something like this to happen. But don't let that stop you - the drama is easily one of the best ones ever made in terms of writing, visuals, music, acting, and everything else!
9.5/10 for me (-0.5 for the rushed ending and the tears I've cried XD)
I came for Zhang Zhehan (and wasn't disappointed, he truly delivered his role), but stayed for the sweet romance and, actually, I loved the FL portrayed by Ju Jingyi. It's my first time seeing her acting and I found her very cute and their chemistry very sweet. There were a few annoying traits about her, but in the plot, it was revealed that she actually was much younger than the ML (hence, that's why they didn't consummate their marriage and he was only teasing her with 'a son would elevate a woman' line). So I'm guessing if she's somewhere around 17, her lack of better judgment can be fully understood. Well, that's what I told myself, and decided not to dwell on all the downsides))) The plot is full of holes, of course, but there are many enjoyable moments (both main couples are great, although each is very different).
All in all, I ended up enjoying this drama more than I thought I would)) But then again, my tolerance is pretty high if I get hooked on at least a few elements in the show.
Word of Honor is just too amazing, thick with symbolism and hidden meanings (I spent a few hours on YouTube learning…
- the NAILS. This has to be the most obvious one, but it kind of hints to Jesus just a little bit XD. - Zhou Zishu appears in a saintly aura of a Savior more than once in the drama. If I'm not mistaken, both Lao Wen and Prince Jin compare him to Bodhisattva (or some other godly embodiment) hinting to his changed attitude in the way he thinks, talks, and acts as well as a strong feeling of justice (someone noted that even his wardrobe was going from darker to lighter tones throughout the episodes). - Indeed A-Xu's character undergoes a great change as he becomes softer and kinder as the series unfolds, mostly thanks to his relationship with Lao Wen and Chenling. - Zhou Zishu is all about Forgiveness. When Lao Wen asks him whether he thinks he's a good person, A-Xu answers that he is. And continues saying something along the lines that when bad people lay their swords, they deserve forgiveness. Just as good people who have done bad things. Very Jesus-like. - The two main leads are literally like light to each other, showing each other the way to a better life. We see it in the beginning of the series, when Zhou Zishu enjoys sunlight while drinking and meets Lao Wen at the very same time. Later in the end of the series, after the battle at Ghost Valley, Lao Wen lies down looking upon A-Xu surrounded by light, saying that he has light on his body. As they stretch hands towards each other, it looks remarkably like the painting The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, depicting God giving life to Adam. - In the scene when Lao Wen kneels before A-Xu after saving him from Prince Jin's people, Zishu really REALLY looks like a saint or messiah blessing him with his hand. Even his clothing style is different and looks like something an ancient saint would wear.
I'm not a religious person by no means, I just think these hints add even more depth to this amazing cdrama.
Word of Honor is just too amazing, thick with symbolism and hidden meanings (I spent a few hours on YouTube learning about all the hidden secrets inside the visuals and the overdubbed original phrases, oh my, it's a BL paradise😊 ).
I've noticed that apart from Chinese metaphors, there's a huge dose of religious hints. Maybe it's been discussed before, but I'd like to share what I've noticed, of course, it's just my subjective view of things (putting it under spoiler next).
Zhang Ruoyun does a stellar job playing the ML, and I was happy to see a few familiar faces (Wang Yang and Wu Gang both starred with him in JOL). I do recommend this drama, it's just so good (and based on actual historical cases)
The plot is extremely well-written, all the characters are well developed and the pace is slow enough to enjoy how each of them unravels. Zhang Ruoyun does a stellar job depicting Xu Feng Nian. XFN is not a chess piece from the very beginning, but we see him grow and break free from his father's way of dealing with things. His values are different, but he is still his father's son when it comes to acting quick and making hard decisions (and he's ruthless enough to make his enemies wary).
All the powerplay and scheming is smartly written and there wasn't a boring moment in the show. It does take quite a few episodes to get into what's going on because at first we see the ML acting a bit, slowly showing his true face. His romance with Jiang Ni is very sweet and pure. I don't know why people are talking about harem - it was clearly stated in the show and by the ML himself that he only keeps all those ladies and doesn't so much as even touch any of them. It was just to make everyone believe he's a careless playboy, when in fact he has always cared about Jiang Ni only.
I really recommend this drama - even without the season 2 it gives you some closure, and the show is too good and entertaining to miss it.
I also love Fan Xian's character development - he steadily goes deeper into this politics pit hole, learning how to deal with stuff along the way, but we can see how he's getting smarter about things, sometimes more ruthless, sometimes as cunning as the Emperor himself, but he still knows fully well the other players are playing way bigger than him (and it's OK). I loved how Papa Fan is always acting like his daddiest daddy, he's just such a cool and endearing father figure. Prime Minister Lin was also a very good mentor and teacher.
I'm getting a feeling the Emperor is the main baddie here (and he has something to do with FX's mother's death, but I didn't read the novel). Cheng Ping Ping is by far one of my most favorite morally grey characters ever written and acted (he almost certainly has his own agenda and it seems he plays along with the Emperor's schemes just to strike him at the right time with his revenge plot). He's scheming on a global level, but somehow he always manages to be on FX's side most of the time.
Anyway, it's been a fun ride, and all the plotting and backstabbing were truly top-notch, as well as acting and music.
Also, it's one of the few series where I simply couldn't skip the opening thanks to OST - the song was so beautiful!
The murderous ex-husband also delivers a stellar performance - you can really see how conflicted he is about what he did, but he still goes far beyond redemption with the evil princess (his kinky love/hate relationship with her was also far from boring and you don't see something like this in cdramas a lot).
All the side characters play well (Tong'er so cute, and so are Duke Su's bodyguards, A-Li's evil mother from the Jiang family is so cunning and evil, with her own back story). All in all, the plot is actually very entertaining.
Visually, it's a masterpiece - I love the colors, floating hair/clothes, pretty lighting, and all those close-ups that really make the viewing experience more intimate (Wang Xing Yue's eyes are magnetic). I've never seen such a filming style before, it's quite refreshing, and overall the beauty and esthetic levels are high in this one.
I didn't mind the ending. They could skip the whole war thing, of course, but then we'd miss those cool fighting scenes and that moment when Xiao Heng takes the pendant given by A-Li into his mouth - oh boy, those were some pretty shots! So, from that aspect, I really don't mind the extra scenes. And they did end up getting back together, so no loss here))
Amazing performance from all the cast, FL and ML are perfect for these roles. It's my first time seeing Liu Yuning act - he's so good! Has both the looks and the acting chops. Liu Shishi is stunning as an assassin, who is slowly learning what it is to love and have a relationship and be with friends. They have great chemistry, not to mention all the brothers from Liudao, I love each and every one of them. Such superbly written and acted characters!
The ending is sad, maybe it could have been different, but as a war story, you can expect something like this to happen. But don't let that stop you - the drama is easily one of the best ones ever made in terms of writing, visuals, music, acting, and everything else!
9.5/10 for me (-0.5 for the rushed ending and the tears I've cried XD)
All in all, I ended up enjoying this drama more than I thought I would)) But then again, my tolerance is pretty high if I get hooked on at least a few elements in the show.
- Zhou Zishu appears in a saintly aura of a Savior more than once in the drama. If I'm not mistaken, both Lao Wen and Prince Jin compare him to Bodhisattva (or some other godly embodiment) hinting to his changed attitude in the way he thinks, talks, and acts as well as a strong feeling of justice (someone noted that even his wardrobe was going from darker to lighter tones throughout the episodes).
- Indeed A-Xu's character undergoes a great change as he becomes softer and kinder as the series unfolds, mostly thanks to his relationship with Lao Wen and Chenling.
- Zhou Zishu is all about Forgiveness. When Lao Wen asks him whether he thinks he's a good person, A-Xu answers that he is. And continues saying something along the lines that when bad people lay their swords, they deserve forgiveness. Just as good people who have done bad things. Very Jesus-like.
- The two main leads are literally like light to each other, showing each other the way to a better life. We see it in the beginning of the series, when Zhou Zishu enjoys sunlight while drinking and meets Lao Wen at the very same time. Later in the end of the series, after the battle at Ghost Valley, Lao Wen lies down looking upon A-Xu surrounded by light, saying that he has light on his body. As they stretch hands towards each other, it looks remarkably like the painting The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, depicting God giving life to Adam.
- In the scene when Lao Wen kneels before A-Xu after saving him from Prince Jin's people, Zishu really REALLY looks like a saint or messiah blessing him with his hand. Even his clothing style is different and looks like something an ancient saint would wear.
I'm not a religious person by no means, I just think these hints add even more depth to this amazing cdrama.
I've noticed that apart from Chinese metaphors, there's a huge dose of religious hints. Maybe it's been discussed before, but I'd like to share what I've noticed, of course, it's just my subjective view of things (putting it under spoiler next).