This review may contain spoilers
Story line
this drama truly shines in its pacing, world-building, and emotional depth, but one thing keeps nagging at me: why was romance even necessary? the story already stands strong on its own, and honestly, removing the romance could have elevated the entire narrative. zang hai was a man shaped entirely by revenge, someone who lived and breathed for a single purpose, yet the script keeps inserting romantic distractions that weaken the sharpness of his journey. ten years is a long time to cultivate hatred and strategy, but somehow he still becomes careless in several key moments, which makes his character feel inconsistent.
i also feel that zang hai should have taken much longer to learn about the complexities between men and women, because those emotional entanglements clearly slowed down his pursuit of vengeance. xiang an tu, on the other hand, is portrayed as deeply vengeful yet hopelessly romantic at the same time, and her presence constantly disrupts zang hai’s path. her obsession adds tension, yes, but it also reveals how easily the story allows personal feelings to interfere with major plotlines.
another detail that confused me was zang hai’s declaration that he wanted to bury his parents properly, only for him to later choose to burn them. the contradiction feels jarring and almost illogical, especially coming from someone whose entire motivation revolves around honoring his parents’ memory. decisions like this make the narrative feel uneven, as if the emotional logic of the characters doesn’t always align with their stated intentions.
yet, strangely enough, once i got past episode 38, everything began to settle into place. the emotional beats finally connected, and i realized how carefully the entire story had actually been crafted. all the flaws, contradictions, and imperfections contribute to a larger emotional tapestry that hits surprisingly hard. despite my frustrations, i ended up feeling genuinely moved. the drama, with all its complexity and contradictions, is still beautifully designed and deeply touching in its own way.
i also feel that zang hai should have taken much longer to learn about the complexities between men and women, because those emotional entanglements clearly slowed down his pursuit of vengeance. xiang an tu, on the other hand, is portrayed as deeply vengeful yet hopelessly romantic at the same time, and her presence constantly disrupts zang hai’s path. her obsession adds tension, yes, but it also reveals how easily the story allows personal feelings to interfere with major plotlines.
another detail that confused me was zang hai’s declaration that he wanted to bury his parents properly, only for him to later choose to burn them. the contradiction feels jarring and almost illogical, especially coming from someone whose entire motivation revolves around honoring his parents’ memory. decisions like this make the narrative feel uneven, as if the emotional logic of the characters doesn’t always align with their stated intentions.
yet, strangely enough, once i got past episode 38, everything began to settle into place. the emotional beats finally connected, and i realized how carefully the entire story had actually been crafted. all the flaws, contradictions, and imperfections contribute to a larger emotional tapestry that hits surprisingly hard. despite my frustrations, i ended up feeling genuinely moved. the drama, with all its complexity and contradictions, is still beautifully designed and deeply touching in its own way.
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