This review may contain spoilers
There was really just one major flaw
I absolutely loved this show. The whole trope of a young woman falling into a script that she was supposed to act in, filled with characters that she is familiar with was well done by the producer. I was effortless. Yet a key issue that stood out to me was, in fact, the casting of SYM. Li Yitong is a decently known actress who has been in the industry for over 10 years, yet despite this great perseverance, she is still only known for pretty looks. The character of SYM is so much more complex than a pretty face, and this is where the casting draws issues.
The character of SYM, who is aware of the future in the script had valid worries towards NH. Any reasonable person would stay 6 feet away from the man destined to kill them. Yet the character of SYM was constructed to be vulnerable. Not is a damsel in distress kind of way, but one who faces immense internal conflicts. Should she remove him from her destiny to prevent her inevitable demise, or trust in him who she has faced countless battles with, the man who she pities for his complex and traumatising background? There is a degree of vulnerability that is required within this role, something that Li Yitong is unable to project.
Due to this SYM is shown to be a heartless, hard-headed and frustrating character. The lack of flexibility in the acting creates some sort of MPD disorder within the character, which irks the viewers.
SYM is also supposed to in love with NH yet each and every emotional moment is just her with her cold eyes, unphased by the affection of NH. It makes you question whether she truly loves him or is holding a knife to his neck for the next time her MPD hits. Her love is untrustworthy, which makes the story so much more toxic than it was meant to be. I almost dropped the show 17 episodes in because of this but stayed for NH, SGH and SYT.
The love story between SYT and SGH is a strange form of tragic. It ends happily yet you still feel this sense of longing towards the characters, a hope for closure. SYT who resembles SGH, captures his heart. She is beautiful, talented and smart, he is aloof, yet he picks up the sword to protect her. Their scenes are *chef's kiss* with a perfect harmony of comedy, and pure romance.
NH is the man. Liu Yuning captivates the audience with his effortless, and charming demeanour, his comedic mishaps that are delivered with pure perfection, and the sentimental scenes that breaks the audience's heart. Hats off to him for this performance. He was the reason I continued.
The story is wonderful, none of the genres contrast with one another, being a period piece, a comedy, a romance and a drama is incredibly hard, and although it pales in comparison to LGIEF it has its perks. The main issue would probably be the unnecessary over villainising of characters, such as the father. Yet he was a partial, and horrible dad to NH, yet no sane father would wield a sword against his young son, starve and throw him into fire. This was an over exaggeration, yet it is not as bad as SYMs blunder.
The character of SYM, who is aware of the future in the script had valid worries towards NH. Any reasonable person would stay 6 feet away from the man destined to kill them. Yet the character of SYM was constructed to be vulnerable. Not is a damsel in distress kind of way, but one who faces immense internal conflicts. Should she remove him from her destiny to prevent her inevitable demise, or trust in him who she has faced countless battles with, the man who she pities for his complex and traumatising background? There is a degree of vulnerability that is required within this role, something that Li Yitong is unable to project.
Due to this SYM is shown to be a heartless, hard-headed and frustrating character. The lack of flexibility in the acting creates some sort of MPD disorder within the character, which irks the viewers.
SYM is also supposed to in love with NH yet each and every emotional moment is just her with her cold eyes, unphased by the affection of NH. It makes you question whether she truly loves him or is holding a knife to his neck for the next time her MPD hits. Her love is untrustworthy, which makes the story so much more toxic than it was meant to be. I almost dropped the show 17 episodes in because of this but stayed for NH, SGH and SYT.
The love story between SYT and SGH is a strange form of tragic. It ends happily yet you still feel this sense of longing towards the characters, a hope for closure. SYT who resembles SGH, captures his heart. She is beautiful, talented and smart, he is aloof, yet he picks up the sword to protect her. Their scenes are *chef's kiss* with a perfect harmony of comedy, and pure romance.
NH is the man. Liu Yuning captivates the audience with his effortless, and charming demeanour, his comedic mishaps that are delivered with pure perfection, and the sentimental scenes that breaks the audience's heart. Hats off to him for this performance. He was the reason I continued.
The story is wonderful, none of the genres contrast with one another, being a period piece, a comedy, a romance and a drama is incredibly hard, and although it pales in comparison to LGIEF it has its perks. The main issue would probably be the unnecessary over villainising of characters, such as the father. Yet he was a partial, and horrible dad to NH, yet no sane father would wield a sword against his young son, starve and throw him into fire. This was an over exaggeration, yet it is not as bad as SYMs blunder.
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