Does anyone know if Wan'er develops another love interest in season 2? Im getting a little tired of Fan Xian going…
No, Wan'er is very dedicated.
Regarding pretty faces, FX in the book has an extended internal monologue about how much prettier his mother-in-law (/aunt) is compared to his wife (/cousin). I don't know why it was necessary but I assume the author was into it.
I believe you guys are WAY TOO HARSH! On my girl Wan'er. Mark my words you all will be kissing her feet and begging…
I'm about 75% of the way through the audiobook and I'm still shipping Duo Duo and FX more haha.
There's a scene later on where they (FX and Duo Duo) meet on the grasslands and hangout for 3 days and oh god, my heart, it hurts.
I know they're not going to end up together but they're just a better match, different nationalities be damned. If anything, the Romeo and Juliet thing they have going makes me ship them harder.
I don't think it's just the chemistry between the actors either, I think Duo Duo's actress just does a good job of portraying her as she is written in the book. Even in the book, they feel like a better pairing.
Show seems very meh to me so far, 6 episodes in. It's not bad, just not exceptional.
Acting so far has been unexceptional but I think a lot of that has been the writing and story, both of which seem quite slow and draggy. Hopefully there will be more good/emotional scenes later for AC and team to work with because none of it has been particularly clever or interesting so far.
I would agree with the others that CX has been pretty monotone. Her character is also written to be pretty monotone but I think a more charismatic actress (such as female lead on ancient detective, which I'm also watching, who has a fairly similar character) could have made her more compelling. Similar things could be said about the remainder of the cast however, none of them are bad but none really stand out.
Production feels a bit cheap with some fake-looking backgrounds but not too bad. Fight scenes are fine.
Don't really like the opening song, doesn't really fit with a period drama IMO.
Hope things get better but I think this will end up being another forgettable drama.
Presumably yes but unclear, that scene is not in the book. Since YBY never does that in the book would assume it's just a misdirection instead of actual betrayal since they'd have to rewrite a lot.
Sooooo I'm about two-thirds of the way through the audiobook of the webnovel and... oh boy, I can't wait for season 2. The story was dragging for a bit in the middle but it really kicks into high gear from ~480-500; I bet this will be the climax/cliffhanger for season 2.
Surprisingly good through episode 6... characters are likeable and fun, worldbuilding is fairly deep, and I like the first two mystery setups. The show is technically well done too with decent production values, etc.
It's similar to other ancient detective dramas like detective dee but I think this one sprinkles in more clues along the way? So it feels less out of left field when the MC solves the case.
A little disappointed in the low episode count but hopefully they'll wrap up any loose ends and won't sequel-bait too hard.
That's interesting; I actually found it to be the opposite. Maybe I just haven't gotten to the good part of the…
I've now gotten to chapter 160, which is where the novel reaches the end of season 1 (actually at like 175 by now). Who knows how long it'll take me to reach the end but I think this would be the most fair place to lodge a final comparison between season 1 and the webnovel; as of now I would definitely stand by my previous statements.
I would agree we get some more insight into FX's mind and thinking but I don't think this made a huge difference so far.
The plotting, however, just seems worse. The pacing is plodding and there just isn't much dramatic tension. The problem is that the antagonists and side characters in the drama get much more personality and screen time because the perspective isn't locked onto FX's. For instance, Shen Zhong is a super interesting character in the drama and he barely exists in the book. His sister also gets much more development in the drama. There are also plot nuances that don't quite make sense, such as why Son San Hu never confronts Fan Xian in the book about the failure of their plan and FX abandoning him. The author basically just wasted a perfectly set up moment of dramatic tension.
So anyways, I would continue to argue that if you want to get more into FX's head then yes, maybe the webnovel is better, but overall the drama is much more tightly plotted and constructed and overall tells the story in a more compelling way.
Honestly if I wasn't curious as to how this story ends from the drama I probably would have quit the webnovel long ago, the length of this thing is no joke.
Not going to say about the ending because was already expecting something like that and as far as the show is…
I felt the same way, Dou Dou and FX just felt more... compatible? It felt like they got each other more, they're both remarkable people who are fairly isolated because of their abilities and high positions but don't let the positions get to their heads.
I don't mind Wan'er but she just doesn't seem as interesting as Dou Dou.
You're so right. I share your frustration. I stopped at episode 8 and have no motivation to continue because of…
I think that this drama is definitely a genre piece... if you're used to how wuxia shows play out, a lot of the weirdness isn't really weird, it's just how these stories go.
For instance, the characters are largely archetypes, there's the noble (but not too bright) warrior, the chaotic neutral trickster, the bad guy who's great at pretending to be a good guy, etc. The characters behave according to their archetypes and sometimes this means they behave like idiots because they're not written as real people, they're written as archetypes which are inherently exaggerated. If you're a noble idiot you're not going to see obvious plots because that's just how your character is.
The entire plot is built on a complicated net of misunderstandings supported by rickety legs of unlikely coincidences.
The mortality rate of falling off of cliffs is also approximately 0% for important characters.
I guess what I'm saying is that the shortcomings of the drama are typical for the genre and if one judges it in that context it's a fairly fun ride. If you're examining the drama more critically or in comparison to more modern stories then yes, the plot is an illogical dumpster fire and the characters (except for possibly the main characters) are cardboard cutouts.
Rather liking the show after 8 episodes, interesting world and setup, good effects. I was a bit confused after the first two episodes but the backstory is starting to fill in and I like where things are going. Has potential!
Regarding the young actors, personally I don't particularly care as long as they find actors who can properly act. Child actors tend to be cringe but so far the ones in this drama are a little wooden but not terrible. The female lead is written to be pretty wooden too so it's not even the actor's fault for now. Will reserve judgement and see how things go.
One thing though, the color pallet kind of bothers me? I know it's a small thing but it looks like they put a color filter over everything, the world is well designed but most scenes look brown and gray. I think Sword Dynasty had a similar (but less pronounced) thing going on so maybe it's a Qiyi thing.
Regarding pretty faces, FX in the book has an extended internal monologue about how much prettier his mother-in-law (/aunt) is compared to his wife (/cousin). I don't know why it was necessary but I assume the author was into it.
There's a scene later on where they (FX and Duo Duo) meet on the grasslands and hangout for 3 days and oh god, my heart, it hurts.
I know they're not going to end up together but they're just a better match, different nationalities be damned. If anything, the Romeo and Juliet thing they have going makes me ship them harder.
I don't think it's just the chemistry between the actors either, I think Duo Duo's actress just does a good job of portraying her as she is written in the book. Even in the book, they feel like a better pairing.
Acting so far has been unexceptional but I think a lot of that has been the writing and story, both of which seem quite slow and draggy. Hopefully there will be more good/emotional scenes later for AC and team to work with because none of it has been particularly clever or interesting so far.
I would agree with the others that CX has been pretty monotone. Her character is also written to be pretty monotone but I think a more charismatic actress (such as female lead on ancient detective, which I'm also watching, who has a fairly similar character) could have made her more compelling. Similar things could be said about the remainder of the cast however, none of them are bad but none really stand out.
Production feels a bit cheap with some fake-looking backgrounds but not too bad. Fight scenes are fine.
Don't really like the opening song, doesn't really fit with a period drama IMO.
Hope things get better but I think this will end up being another forgettable drama.
It's similar to other ancient detective dramas like detective dee but I think this one sprinkles in more clues along the way? So it feels less out of left field when the MC solves the case.
A little disappointed in the low episode count but hopefully they'll wrap up any loose ends and won't sequel-bait too hard.
I would agree we get some more insight into FX's mind and thinking but I don't think this made a huge difference so far.
The plotting, however, just seems worse. The pacing is plodding and there just isn't much dramatic tension. The problem is that the antagonists and side characters in the drama get much more personality and screen time because the perspective isn't locked onto FX's. For instance, Shen Zhong is a super interesting character in the drama and he barely exists in the book. His sister also gets much more development in the drama. There are also plot nuances that don't quite make sense, such as why Son San Hu never confronts Fan Xian in the book about the failure of their plan and FX abandoning him. The author basically just wasted a perfectly set up moment of dramatic tension.
So anyways, I would continue to argue that if you want to get more into FX's head then yes, maybe the webnovel is better, but overall the drama is much more tightly plotted and constructed and overall tells the story in a more compelling way.
Honestly if I wasn't curious as to how this story ends from the drama I probably would have quit the webnovel long ago, the length of this thing is no joke.
I don't mind Wan'er but she just doesn't seem as interesting as Dou Dou.
For instance, the characters are largely archetypes, there's the noble (but not too bright) warrior, the chaotic neutral trickster, the bad guy who's great at pretending to be a good guy, etc. The characters behave according to their archetypes and sometimes this means they behave like idiots because they're not written as real people, they're written as archetypes which are inherently exaggerated. If you're a noble idiot you're not going to see obvious plots because that's just how your character is.
The entire plot is built on a complicated net of misunderstandings supported by rickety legs of unlikely coincidences.
The mortality rate of falling off of cliffs is also approximately 0% for important characters.
I guess what I'm saying is that the shortcomings of the drama are typical for the genre and if one judges it in that context it's a fairly fun ride. If you're examining the drama more critically or in comparison to more modern stories then yes, the plot is an illogical dumpster fire and the characters (except for possibly the main characters) are cardboard cutouts.
Regarding the young actors, personally I don't particularly care as long as they find actors who can properly act. Child actors tend to be cringe but so far the ones in this drama are a little wooden but not terrible. The female lead is written to be pretty wooden too so it's not even the actor's fault for now. Will reserve judgement and see how things go.
One thing though, the color pallet kind of bothers me? I know it's a small thing but it looks like they put a color filter over everything, the world is well designed but most scenes look brown and gray. I think Sword Dynasty had a similar (but less pronounced) thing going on so maybe it's a Qiyi thing.