Xiang83

Ultimate Note was when Xiaoge and Wu Xie had spent more time with each other on adventures and were further along in a strong friendship, unlike this drama which I understand is the beginning of their friendship. Francis Ng and Cao Lei are solid actors, which I want to see more of.

Since the author will have the drama follow the books more closely in adaptation, I am interested to see what is included or what is removed (and maybe included later as a flashback). Might the directors be playing safe this season for the adaptation, also to try to make distinctions between this remake versus what has gone before with other platforms? What I appreciate is that there isn't an over-usage of BGM in this drama, because that tends to be the case these days for mandarin dramas.

And yes, the ADR needs improving.

I agree A Ning was too soft.

Genuine question of curiosity: How and where do you think this drama could be improved for season 2 eg what character-specific traits are you referring to?

I watched Ultimate Note and dropped it after 17 episodes, because it's a mess for me. Liu Yuning and Hankiz turned in individual performances I like, but I need the plot, subplots and pacing to be solidly coherent. Storylines with good directing of an above-average script accompanied by good acting must come hand-in-hand for me, otherwise I will not finish something. "Mobius" and "The Guardians" are good dramas for me because the romance is minimal or non-existent (and in minimalism for Mobius actually adds something), but the primary focus is on the plots and characters.

An example is my review for "The Journey of Legend", where the screenwriters and directors and post-production team primarily screwed up: https://kisskh.at/profile/Xiang83/review/497878

I believe this adaptation is possibly the best place to start for DMBJ as a drama and probably anyone who hasn't read the corresponding books for this adaptation should do so, after that. As to what I would watch for a follow-up? I'll wait for season 2 as per the author utilising the same team for this season.

In the meantime, I have added Southern Anecdote because the trailer makes me believe it will be a proper adventure. That said, I understand if the author and director allow for minor concessions that could be interpreted as bromance (as per the underwater scene) but I don't want that to derail the adaptations.

Thank you for reading. Cheng Yi's acting and line delivery in some scenes could be classified as lifeless, unenergetic, flat and hence unconvincing. Those scenes contrast with other scenes where he is absolutely compelling which is why 8 episodes in, I concluded the Directors were handling a script that was not a good adaptation of the novel and on top of that, the Directors didn't give multiple actors the necessary specifics to help their performances. This applies to the entire Shenzhou Sworn Brotherhood and Tang Rong.

For camerawork of the first two episodes, it felt like a laidback travel panorama where you're being given a tour. I don't want a tour. I want to feel as if I am part of the story. There should have been a family meal as I described, followed by the scenes of his father telling Xiao Qiushui off in front of the siblings. The scenes in ep 1 between Xiao Qiushui and his mother should have been removed and replaced with camerawork of walking through the household, to exit into the open courtyard filled with training exercises of various sect members and eventually zoom out above for the entire landscape (drone shot). A monologue of one sentence about being Xiao Qiushui is very difficult leads to Xiao Qiushui hand sparring with his oldest brother. Quick exchange of moves to showcase the closeness and skills of each pugilist as siblings, followed by a frontal shot of the oldest brother swiftly punching at you in FPS view (so you get the direct impression of being knocked out or blocking) and cue the scene blacking out instantly. Then you get Xiao Qiushui gingerly and slowly walking through the necessary in solitude during the night, hand on his chest as if he's been in a fight, before he is introduced to the system.

Family and filial piety. Sect. Nation. For the greater good. Followed by the mission to change it all. This is the necessary direction for episode 1, providing intimacy and depth and energy and contrast for every viewer to get connected and inspired to want to join in this developing adventure, because this is a journey of a legend. What are the directors doing?

Li Lianhua in MLC has a good backstory and compelling circumstances. Xiao Mingming's story is that he Gary Stu-ed a main character and now he's in the story as the main character to guide the results and consequences. Xiao Mingming may not have any compelling backstory or background, but this is where a mostly-blank slate is an advantage for the screenwriter and directors to persuade the audience into rooting for our clueless protagonist who will do his best to uphold 侠义 of the pugilist world for the sake of the nation and do his family proud. What Cheng Yi delivered was a book of lines where I felt like half the time, he was asking questions or giving details to tell me what was going to happen with a manual. I wouldn't have any enthusiasm in his place. Kudos to him for trying to deliver a vision that the directors couldn't even agree and decide upon.

I enjoyed Xu Zhenxuan's acting (a star is born) but I don't see any point of why Liu Suifeng had so much screentime in this drama. Li Chenzhou was essential, but his limited appearances were mostly for posturing when he should have been in more episodes. I didn't have any more energy to expand on more specifics. Enigma05's review detailed the excruciating process of some specific plot-holes and problems, which you should check out: https://kisskh.at/profile/Enigma05/review/497520

His voice is sublime. The way he delivers lines with just the right amount of emotion (especially the heart-wrenching ones) is reflected in how well he sings ballads (this one will melt you):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvgxUZrC1lI

Ah Lam gor never lost his incredible star power. In episode 34, he literally steals the minutes of the episode when he is present. And in episode 36 with Gulinazha, his emotional chemistry was so strong with her that they could have been a couple or siblings, but the bond was so evocative. This project shows he has to be in a wuxia drama again. And he better be one of the MLs!

There are some minor flaws with this drama at this point, but nothing significant enough to note.

I believe the Directors have been realistic about ML treatment of FL in this episode. If she was not of any value to Feng Suige while noted by him and his men as a highly-capable general of an enemy army who nearly killed the First Prince and already cost their kingdom many men in battle? She would probably be tortured much worse than what he has limited being done to her, possibly badly sexually assaulted and likely returned not in one piece to Jinxiu Kingdom as a specific message to their Emperor. His men likely and rightfully hate Fu Yixiao for the comrades she has cost them. Feng Suige has to walk a very-fine balance between what he needs to minimally get done to appease the feelings of his men against this enemy leader at this point, while limiting the extent of injuries she has to endure.

If she had not been female, Feng Suige would have every right not to place limits on what his men would do for torture. But since she is invaluable as the potential key to finding the high-ranking traitors on their side who colluded with Jinxiu Kingdom which he already figured out and only spoke about at the end of episode 5. Fu Yixiao eventually being publicly paraded as his concubine is a smart strategic move on his part for multiple reasons.

Beating up women is not acceptable and very cruel from a man, which is an understandable reaction from many viewers. But back in those times, if a woman had gone into battle and shown herself to be exceptionally dangerous as an enemy, having killed so many soldiers and nearly killing the leader of our army? It's not about being acceptable or not. It's about addressing a problem Feng Suige cannot avoid because of her position and achievements against his kingdom, and having this over and done with, as soon as possible. His men cannot be allowed to believe that he has feelings for her (which he doesn't) and therefore his judgment is skewed and unreliable when they already lost the Battle of Pingling. After this, only then can he truly justify any decisions to continue protecting her, which his men have to accept.

If the positions had been reversed and Fu Yixiao was deciding what to do with Feng Suige, she would have to justify any decision as to what she would do with him, and whether his life is worth preserving because she has to answer to certain people such as the Prince of Zhennan and their emperor plus her own men. In episode 8, Xia Jingshi has expressed to Feng Suige what kind of ending he wanted for Feng Suige and Susha Kingdom with that arrow.

Why don't you list your criteria (such as appearance details or abilities) of what you deem suitable as a capable experienced female general, for the ML?

The prince of the enemy kingdom is someone the ML views with utter contempt as his nemesis for more than one reason, and I would advise watching 10 episodes before you make any conclusions about any of the characters. There are layers to peel away. These layers are nicely revealed, while the pacing of the plot and developments in characterisations are well-controlled. Minor flaws can be overlooked at this point. Supporting cast is not stereotyped or one-dimensional, which is part of why this drama so far is hugely engaging IMHO. I have watched 8 episodes and the previews of episodes 9 and 10.

The ML is using his own voice here.

Episode 2 will definitely divide people on that segment. In reality, if she was not of any value to Feng Suige while noted by him and his men as a highly-capable general of an enemy army who nearly killed the First Prince and already cost their kingdom many men in battle? She would probably be tortured much worse than what he has limited being done to her, possibly badly sexually assaulted and likely returned not in one piece to Jinxiu Kingdom as a specific message to their Emperor. His men likely and rightfully hate Fu Yixiao for the comrades she has cost them. Feng Suige has to walk a very-fine balance between what he needs to minimally get done to appease the feelings of his men against this enemy leader, while limiting the extent of injuries she has to endure.

If she had not been female, Feng Suige would have every right not to place limits on what his men would do for torture. But since she is invaluable as the potential key to finding the high-ranking traitors on their side who colluded with Jinxiu Kingdom which he already figured out before the end of episode 5, Fu Yixiao being publicly known as his concubine is a smart strategic move and is also why he chose to protect her. Beating up women is not acceptable. A woman who has gone into battle and shown herself to be an exception, having killed so many soldiers and nearly killing him? It's not about being acceptable or not. It's about addressing a problem Feng Suige cannot avoid because of her position and achievements against his kingdom, and having this over and done with, as soon as possible. His men cannot be allowed to believe that he has feelings for her (which he doesn't) and therefore his judgment is skewed and unreliable when they already lost the Battle of Pingling. After this, only then he can justify any decisions to continue protecting her which his men have to accept, including as his concubine.

If the positions had been reversed and Fu Yixiao was deciding what to do with Feng Suige, she too would have to justify any decision as to what she would do with him, and whether his life is worth preserving because she has to answer to certain people such as the Prince of Zhennan plus her own men. In episode 8, Xia Jingshi has expressed to Feng Suige what kind of decision he would have made about Feng Suige. Good thing positions are not reversed.

Gu Yang Shan has a soft spot for Meng Jie, who has feelings for him. When Ding Yi is literally trying to encourage Gu Yang Shan, Ding Yi wanting to be Gu Yang Shan's wingman had me cracking up.

Zhang Yishan's acting is so compelling that by episode 12, I just want him not to suffer anymore. He was so emotionally wrecked after Hongyu's death.

If he didn't suspect something more to the Battle of Pingling, if she had been a man she would be executed after being tortured much worse than what they did to her, unless he could see any bargain value using her (since she is primarily an enemy soldier). Her amnesia and circumstances are what gives Feng Suige strong reasons to keep her alive, safe, and by his side as a concubine.

It might depend on your affinity for which characters. Speaking of characters, make sure you catch up with Uncle 3 and Wu Xie!

Very nice to see this drama breaking the IQiyi 7000 Heat Index more than 9 hours ago: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5217455838334795

Sa Dingding who sang the theme song also lends her voice to parts of the BGM. Here are seven short segments in episodes 2, 5 and 6 where she does so: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV16uHPzEEQz/

If I find it, I'll post here. baikebaidu also lists the song: https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%90%B4%E9%82%AA%E7%A7%81%E5%AE%B6%E7%AC%94%E8%AE%B0/61976715#5
These are the lyrics from that segment of episode 8:

如果这片废墟是你对我最后考验
无所谓我会造一座丰碑
在你面前
不需要膜拜我挣脱枷锁
迷雾里找寻我
时间倾刻淹没
烧穿身体的火
故事还没走到结尾
不想在变得不人不鬼

Here's a BTS of Xian Biyun for a future episode (you can watch it without worry, because it won't necessarily spoil the crux of episodes you have not watched): https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5216613332422295

Our Gu Yang Shan can sing very well on a rooftop, to a cat (BTS for episode 16): https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5217005915085798

Dynamic duo acting. As to whether the cat reciprocates the sentiment~ XD

Here is the OST of 10 songs for "The Guardians": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-pqgvP353M

Are you going to post anything on your feed about that?

Xia Yi in episodes 11 and 13 is hilarious. He gets to showcase his acting chops and subtleties brilliantly because of the Heart-Binding poison, which is a very smart move by the screenwriter and director.

I liked Hong'an gege at first. He appears to be simple to Lu Yingying, then shows flashes of shrewdness that at first makes him a worthy rival to Jun Che who at this point, is trying to understand what love means. And then Hong'an reveals why he deserved that slap from Yingying.

How Jun Che and Yingying disagreed about snow in episode 9 is another clever way to showcase the differences in how they see and think about the same situation. These seemingly small interactions allow for us to gain insight and connect with the leads. At the same time, they are actually teenagers who were never given the chance to figure out what love is. After rebirth, this is their actual chance at trying to learn and understand, while overcoming past misgivings based.

These episodes are also a reminder that our leads don't actually understand what true love should be, and they are trying to understand themselves and what true love is.

Episode 12 is when Yingying and Jun Che have a frank conversation about feelings, with Jun Che confessing. Episode 13 is when Yingying strives to hold true to what she has always been, and refuses to stab him, and then acknowledges him as Xiao Wu while stating the past is dead.

I especially enjoy the usage of names. When Yingying tells Jun Che he cannot call her by that name yet, it is indeed fitting.

Looking forward to seeing how Jun Che clarifies the situation of Yan Hui to Yingying in episode 15.