Tin Jian Ci as Xiang Liu really makes this drama. His character is the most complex and he brings that to life so viscerally. There is so much more chemistry between him and the FL than any of the other actors. While the Jing character is nice, he’s just too one-dimensional and pitiful. But, these two are the only characters whose stories I am compelled to get more of. I don’t find myself caring about anyone else.
I’m only at episode 20, so maybe this will change. But, the FL was more interesting as a man. Why all the focus on her being “pretty” and that being equated to “good”? No one in her homeland has seen her since she was a child, so how do they know if she’s good?
I find the “pretty-much-a-sibling who harbors unrequited romantic feelings” completely boring. The spoiled girl who is at least in her teens (which is how many years in their “divine” lives?) but can’t muster one iota of compassion for the sister who was lost and has been through hell? Wtf? She hasn’t lived around her father and cousin’s despair about the lost child/sister such that she can at least be happy for them? What the hell kind of character is this?
There is a potentially very interesting story to journey through in here, but it is mired in shallow characterizations. Until you get to Tan Jian Ci. The character’s story is not something new, per se, but his portrayal is captivating. You can totally feel the conflict between torment and being resolved to a lonely fate of being The Scary One. I’ve seen him in other things, but he really shines here.
Late getting to this. Didn't think I'd like it, but I am enjoying it. I appreciate the healthier relationship development of the leads, compared to other dramas.
The one place it loses me: the depiction of the sect daughter always jumping to suspicion of a woman she's known for, literally, her entire life. Why would anyone recommend her as a leader, when she can't hold onto her sense of a person she has known, loved and, supposedly, trusted for her whole life? Someone who has never displayed any reason for anyone to be suspicious of her. If someone like that stabbed me, after immediately jumping to the conclusion that I murdered the man I considered a second father, I wouldn't be saying, "I would have been the same under those conditions...." No. She wouldn't have. She has great judgement of people and thinks before she acts. This girl is not leadership material. She's too flimsy. And she'll be easily manipulated and deceived. The FL lead is a character who would see this and never would have recommended to the sect leader that she be the successor. She would have recommended the young man and made the daughter the deputy. I also wouldn't remain friendly with such a person. It wasn't the fist time she jumped to the worst possible judgement of the FL. I would never trust her again.
Anyway, there are of course, flaws in just about every story. But, this is one of those tropes that writers use way too often: immediately mistrusting one of the most trustworthy people you've ever known. I absolutely loathe it, as I find it completely unrealistic, almost 100% of the time.
Mostly, the writers did a good job here of avoiding the dumbest use of tropes and put together a nice story, with admirable lead characters.
One dimensional world: we don't see anything of it that isn't related to "cultivating" and fighting. Everyone apparently only exists to hone fighting skills, bluster about them, and kill anyone they feel like.
One dimensional characters. The mom that only exists to spur her children into nefarious acts. The mom who only exists to worry. The woman who only exists to behave like a hapless temptress. (this part led me think this was a cartoon for 13 years old, not 8 year olds.) The lead who is admirable and boring as hell. No one is grey. No one has multiple aspects to their characters.
They didn't even give us enough experience of the protagonist to care all that much when his lover and friend betray him in the beginning. Other than the natural, obligatory empathy that someone was treated that way. We have no emotional connection to him. Even though he claims that the woman was his lover, it hardly looks like it. He shows no affection toward her, at all, prior to being "betrayed."
Everyone is so wooden.
But, what, exactly, is it that all these people are fighting for? the vague notion of a country? what country? we see a couple of rooms here and there. We don't see a society. We don't know what "offenses" any one nation has committed against another.
It's okay. You will suffer more in the upcoming episodes. 😂 Many are frustrated cause of the FL leads behaviour/attitude…
I live in a small city. (About 600k population) We have at least 10 hospitals and there are fire departments all over the city. Every small neighborhood has one. This drama’s setup makes no sense.
It's okay. You will suffer more in the upcoming episodes. 😂 Many are frustrated cause of the FL leads behaviour/attitude…
I don't mind the angst. It seems realistic to me that someone who has basically been brainwashed all her life, and who would have been alone in the world without family, would take a long time to break free of the chains that bind her. If she just suddenly burst out and was like, "now that I see him, I'll burn all my bridges, of course!", it would not at all reflect how the process of resisting what's been embedded in your psyche really. These things take forever. They are not a straight trajectory and the people around the person having this inner battle will come at them from all angles and become very frustrated with them. All of that makes sense.
Still, what size city are they in? And they keep running into each other, accidentally? and she keeps needing to be saved? They even pull up next to each other in a traffic jam? I've lived in a medium size city for the past 30 years and have never once just ended up next to someone I know, in traffic.
Her character development is somewhat realistic. The plot development is not at all. Its too bad, because the acting is solid and the concept of what they have to go through, while depicting traditional versus contemporary views about relations, is an interesting one. The writers are blowing the quality of the storytelling with these unnatural plot points. It seems kind of lazy, actually. It wouldn't be that hard to create more realistic scenarios of how they encounter one another. (for one thing, they could stretch the timeframe. although viewers can struggle with stories that have a long time period, it would actually make more sense, given what she has to face and become determined about.)
Anyway, mostly a good story, so I'll end up finishing it at some point.
I can understand raising awareness, but here, they make the "heroes" of the story tell victims of child abuse that they should see how their parents love and them and not view it as abuse. That's unacceptable.
I stopped watching, for now. Maybe it gets better later and there is some lesson to be imparted, but in these early episodes I really couldn't stomach the way they were glorifying horrible parents.
I hope this is a decent retelling. I’m a fan of (most of) the novel and thought the original drama adaptation did such a great job with portraying the setting and the nature of the characters. It felt quite down to earth. Of course, the actors did such a good job that the it’s iconic,.
But, I’m eeling unsure about this. Gu Hai is a big, totally buff, military trained bad ass. Bai Luo Yan is a gritty, poor kid who almost matched Gu Hai’s physical prowess, while having an even more gruff personality,
What made their pairing so alluring was that they were like walking male pheromones with everyone around them being attracted to that. They were young men who could literally fight their way through the obstacles they would face. There was a way in which they defied certain stereotypes about gay men.
The two characters here look so soft and pretty. They seem more preening that prowess. (Gu Hai would never wear that outfit!) I can’t imagine them surviving some of what’s in the story, much less having the physical prowess to outclass the gym teacher.
There were things in the novel that I hope never to see depicted, as they should never be part of a romance. However, the core of the characters and the overarching story was compelling enough to cringe and look past some things. If the central feeling of the characters is changed, it very likely becomes a much more bland story. That’s already going to be the case by making it a friendship story rather than a romance. You can only change so much of what gave a story it’s charge, before you’ve lost the spark. And you’re telling a different story. In which case, don’t use the same plot. Write something new.
Will wait to see what people say after a while. Maybe it will be better than my gut is telling me it will be.
Just starting episode 8. So far, the real romance is between the instructor and the captain. They are relationship goals. Love how they talk with each other.
What’s with all the parental abuse apologetics in this? It’s very disturbing. Gaslighting victims by telling them that constant berating and even hitting is really a form of love? Wtf?
At one point, vehement instructor even says, “I bet it felt like verbal abuse, but you’ll come to understand…..” to someone in a suicidal crisis. No. This is not how you help someone through that. Just stop.
I'm only at the beginning, but Gong Yoo's character is not all that likeable and the other character redeemed himself when he laughed off the FL's prank, acknowledging that he deserved it.
showed up on Viki and I thought I'd give it a watch.
I'm having a hard time with some of the set up.
"You left in your sophomore year of college. Has it been 6 years?" - OK. That gives her maximum 3 years of work experience. Yet, somehow, she's sorely needed to head a project planning and development team for a film production company? And she's going to just jump into a position above all these experienced people? What, exactly are her qualifications?
"It wasn't easy to get her...." um. It required exactly one 5-minute meeting. You didn't even work to find her. She's the friend of one of your film directors.
Also having a really hard time swallowing the intrusive friend who just yells and makes judgement of people. "Are you going to unpack these?" "I'll do it later." "Well, then, I'll do it now." Um, leave her belongings alone, unless you're asked to unpack them.
Hoping this is just the lame way of setting up the story and the writing gets better. Does it?
this drama story end or not? no another season right? and what this drama about? solving case? how much case ?
There are two separate cases, which are not connected as crimes, so much as connected by the people trying to solve them, or being impacted by them.
It’s more a story of corruption and power dynamics amongst lawyers/law firms. A look at how challenging it can be to bring to light the nefarious acts of someone revered in an industry.
K-Drama 
I’m only at episode 20, so maybe this will change. But, the FL was more interesting as a man. Why all the focus on her being “pretty” and that being equated to “good”? No one in her homeland has seen her since she was a child, so how do they know if she’s good?
I find the “pretty-much-a-sibling who harbors unrequited romantic feelings” completely boring. The spoiled girl who is at least in her teens (which is how many years in their “divine” lives?) but can’t muster one iota of compassion for the sister who was lost and has been through hell? Wtf? She hasn’t lived around her father and cousin’s despair about the lost child/sister such that she can at least be happy for them? What the hell kind of character is this?
There is a potentially very interesting story to journey through in here, but it is mired in shallow characterizations. Until you get to Tan Jian Ci. The character’s story is not something new, per se, but his portrayal is captivating. You can totally feel the conflict between torment and being resolved to a lonely fate of being The Scary One. I’ve seen him in other things, but he really shines here.
The one place it loses me: the depiction of the sect daughter always jumping to suspicion of a woman she's known for, literally, her entire life. Why would anyone recommend her as a leader, when she can't hold onto her sense of a person she has known, loved and, supposedly, trusted for her whole life? Someone who has never displayed any reason for anyone to be suspicious of her. If someone like that stabbed me, after immediately jumping to the conclusion that I murdered the man I considered a second father, I wouldn't be saying, "I would have been the same under those conditions...." No. She wouldn't have. She has great judgement of people and thinks before she acts. This girl is not leadership material. She's too flimsy. And she'll be easily manipulated and deceived. The FL lead is a character who would see this and never would have recommended to the sect leader that she be the successor. She would have recommended the young man and made the daughter the deputy. I also wouldn't remain friendly with such a person. It wasn't the fist time she jumped to the worst possible judgement of the FL. I would never trust her again.
Anyway, there are of course, flaws in just about every story. But, this is one of those tropes that writers use way too often: immediately mistrusting one of the most trustworthy people you've ever known. I absolutely loathe it, as I find it completely unrealistic, almost 100% of the time.
Mostly, the writers did a good job here of avoiding the dumbest use of tropes and put together a nice story, with admirable lead characters.
A lot of despicable people, but a fun little suspense story.
Very one dimensional.
One dimensional world: we don't see anything of it that isn't related to "cultivating" and fighting. Everyone apparently only exists to hone fighting skills, bluster about them, and kill anyone they feel like.
One dimensional characters. The mom that only exists to spur her children into nefarious acts. The mom who only exists to worry. The woman who only exists to behave like a hapless temptress. (this part led me think this was a cartoon for 13 years old, not 8 year olds.) The lead who is admirable and boring as hell. No one is grey. No one has multiple aspects to their characters.
They didn't even give us enough experience of the protagonist to care all that much when his lover and friend betray him in the beginning. Other than the natural, obligatory empathy that someone was treated that way. We have no emotional connection to him. Even though he claims that the woman was his lover, it hardly looks like it. He shows no affection toward her, at all, prior to being "betrayed."
Everyone is so wooden.
But, what, exactly, is it that all these people are fighting for? the vague notion of a country? what country? we see a couple of rooms here and there. We don't see a society. We don't know what "offenses" any one nation has committed against another.
I mean, its fine as it goes.
Still, what size city are they in? And they keep running into each other, accidentally? and she keeps needing to be saved? They even pull up next to each other in a traffic jam? I've lived in a medium size city for the past 30 years and have never once just ended up next to someone I know, in traffic.
Her character development is somewhat realistic. The plot development is not at all. Its too bad, because the acting is solid and the concept of what they have to go through, while depicting traditional versus contemporary views about relations, is an interesting one. The writers are blowing the quality of the storytelling with these unnatural plot points. It seems kind of lazy, actually. It wouldn't be that hard to create more realistic scenarios of how they encounter one another. (for one thing, they could stretch the timeframe. although viewers can struggle with stories that have a long time period, it would actually make more sense, given what she has to face and become determined about.)
Anyway, mostly a good story, so I'll end up finishing it at some point.
I stopped watching, for now. Maybe it gets better later and there is some lesson to be imparted, but in these early episodes I really couldn't stomach the way they were glorifying horrible parents.
Seems like they've taken the gravitas out of the story. Oh well.
Thank you.
But, I’m eeling unsure about this. Gu Hai is a big, totally buff, military trained bad ass. Bai Luo Yan is a gritty, poor kid who almost matched Gu Hai’s physical prowess, while having an even more gruff personality,
What made their pairing so alluring was that they were like walking male pheromones with everyone around them being attracted to that. They were young men who could literally fight their way through the obstacles they would face. There was a way in which they defied certain stereotypes about gay men.
The two characters here look so soft and pretty. They seem more preening that prowess. (Gu Hai would never wear that outfit!) I can’t imagine them surviving some of what’s in the story, much less having the physical prowess to outclass the gym teacher.
There were things in the novel that I hope never to see depicted, as they should never be part of a romance. However, the core of the characters and the overarching story was compelling enough to cringe and look past some things. If the central feeling of the characters is changed, it very likely becomes a much more bland story. That’s already going to be the case by making it a friendship story rather than a romance. You can only change so much of what gave a story it’s charge, before you’ve lost the spark. And you’re telling a different story. In which case, don’t use the same plot. Write something new.
Will wait to see what people say after a while. Maybe it will be better than my gut is telling me it will be.
At one point, vehement instructor even says, “I bet it felt like verbal abuse, but you’ll come to understand…..” to someone in a suicidal crisis. No. This is not how you help someone through that. Just stop.
I have hyperacusis and some sounds and pitches literally cause me pain.
Also, that mullet.... :-D
I'm having a hard time with some of the set up.
"You left in your sophomore year of college. Has it been 6 years?" - OK. That gives her maximum 3 years of work experience. Yet, somehow, she's sorely needed to head a project planning and development team for a film production company? And she's going to just jump into a position above all these experienced people? What, exactly are her qualifications?
"It wasn't easy to get her...." um. It required exactly one 5-minute meeting. You didn't even work to find her. She's the friend of one of your film directors.
Also having a really hard time swallowing the intrusive friend who just yells and makes judgement of people. "Are you going to unpack these?" "I'll do it later." "Well, then, I'll do it now." Um, leave her belongings alone, unless you're asked to unpack them.
Hoping this is just the lame way of setting up the story and the writing gets better. Does it?
It’s more a story of corruption and power dynamics amongst lawyers/law firms. A look at how challenging it can be to bring to light the nefarious acts of someone revered in an industry.
It is, perhaps, Luo Jin’s best performance ever.