Loved this. The episode flew by and I was at the last episode before I knew it.
This drama was visually stunning with matching music and an incredibly well suited cast.
The main characters were really well cast and this is coming from someone who initially thought that Tan Jian Ci and Deng Wei should switch roles because of what I thought their characters should look like based on the novel. All I can say now, is that I can't really imagine them playing each other's characters anymore.
I'll admit right away that I have a soft spot for Yang Zi. She's a very talented actress, but even more than that she has a very pleasant on screen presence. She did really well portraying this character and I never doubted she would.
The surprise for me in this drama ended up being Tan Jian Ci. Xiang Liu was my favourite character in the novel and he portrayed him exceptionally well. So well, that I can't imagine anyone else in this role anymore.
Zhang Wan Yi was another pleasant surprise. While I could never bring myself to like his character, especially knowing all the things his character ended up doing in the novel, the drama version seems much softer and kinder and understandable in comparison and I can't bring myself to outright hate him. At least not yet.
Deng Wei did a good job as well. The unfortunate thing about his character is that compared to the previously mentioned characters, he's not as charismatic. He's the gentle and kind and quiet sort of character, sometimes frustratingly so, but there's something heartwarming about him. Unfortunately, people like that do end up suffering especially in a high position such as his.
Wang Hong Yi brought the boyish and straightforward Feng Long to life and he did it really well. I loved his character. This character didn't leave much of an impression on me in the novel, but I really loved him in the drama.
All in all, this was a really well made drama that did justice to the novel.
That one is on my list too, but I'm not starting it until all the episodes have aired. I have no patience.
Loving it so far. I really liked the novel back when I read it ages ago and so far the drama is doing it justice.
I actually initially thought that Deng Wei and Tan Jian Ci should switch roles back when the casting news came out, because I thought they fit each others characters more based on appearance, but I changed my mind almost as soon as I started watching. Can't imagine them playing each others characters now.
While I can definitely see Shin Min Ah in this role, Lee Jong Suk doesn't really seem to fit. Than again, it all depends on the performance anyway so we won't know until the drama actually comes out
Would you be able to share if the novel ended similarly? I might give it a read because I love this drama so much!
There are actually a lot of differences with the novel, especially in the second part of the drama, so it didn't end similarly. I do recommend the novel if you loved the drama.
Currently on episode 24 and there's hardly any romance. After they both confessed, nothing's happened between…
The lack of intimacy is indeed apparent, but it does make sense after the revelations in the last episode. I wasn't really bothered by it as the story was engaging enough as it is for me. Though, it would have been a welcome addition given the chemistry between the leads.
I feel like I just started watching this drama , but in the blink of an eye it's I already finished watching the last episode.
This was one of those dramas that I anticipated the most, because I loved the novel and I really liked the cast. My expectations were high and this drama delivered. I absolutely LOVED it.
The cast did an amazing job with their characters. They were exactly what I expected. And above everything else, they were all likeable. The main five (yes, I'm including Cui Cui), are among the most likeable main 'teams' I've seen in dramas so far. I really loved their dynamic.
The story moves at a fast pace and there are almost no dull moments. The story itself is interesting and engaging. It's a nice blend of funny, cute and bright with emotional heavier themes. Love and affection in different forms is presented very nicely and it's definitely a thread connecting all the stories aside from the obvious connection to the overall mystery of the overarching plot.
This drama has made my rewatch list, which is probably the highest praise I can bestow on a drama.
I'm going to miss these characters until my next rewatch.
I have to be honest waiting wasn't easy! I'm glad you are enjoying it
Nowadays I don't have the patience to wait for episodes to come out, so I just wait until the drama I want to watch finishes airing and watch at my own pace.
Especially in cases like this, where I really liked the novel and I like the cast, so I end up really excited to watch the drama. So far (I'm at episode 25 at the moment), I'm really loving it.
I'm really enjoying this drama. The episodes are flying by. I feel like I just started watching it, but I'm already on episode 20! I'm glad I waited till the drama was finished before watching. I would not have been able to patiently wait for episodes.
This drama definitely had potential to be great, but ended up being just okay.
The likeable characters were the reason why I was able to stick with it till the end. I really liked the main couple. They are great as individual characters, but I also really liked them as a couple. Both are independent, intelligent, fierce and straightforward. As a couple, they have a lot of trust in each other and are very much equals. That's the aspect of their relationship that I really appreciated. The FL is strong and independent and is not a damsel in distress constantly waiting to be rescued. Instead, both the ML and the FL help each other, support each other and rescue each other. I really liked their dynamic and chemistry.
There is also a multitude of other likeable characters of which Xuanyuan Li Ge and Baili Wei Sheng stood out for me. Both provided an interesting counterbalance to the main leads, showing off characters with a different aura.
The biggest problem with this drama is that the storytelling is not focused. They crammed a lot in 40 episodes, which contributed to this drama lacking any tension. Things just happen one after the other. There's no buildup, no excitement and therefore also no payoff. They just travel from one kingdom to the next, have a fight, win and move on.
Another problem is there are too many characters. They come and go and move the story along, but rarely have a significant impact on it. A lot of them could have been cut out without any loss to the overall story.
Does this drama deserve all the praise? For me, yes it does. It's by no means perfect, no drama is, but it's engaging, visually stunning and the music was absolutely beautiful.
The cast did a great job portraying their characters. The only thing that initially bothered me was the fact that they cast all these actors and actresses over 30 to play characters that are basically teenagers/students. It's not convincing, but the drama moves past that part of the story swiftly enough and then their ages stop mattering all that much.
I've read comments complaining about the lack of romance between Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng. Personally, it didn't bother me. First of all, the focus of the story is not on their romance, but on the revenge and seeking justice. Secondly, the romance, while understated, is still there. There are plenty of scenes between the two leads showing their connection and trust in each other, however they can't really indulge in romance until they reach their goals. This is the reason why the extra episode was a cute addition to show how the characters interact when they're not under pressure.
This drama was visually stunning with matching music and an incredibly well suited cast.
The main characters were really well cast and this is coming from someone who initially thought that Tan Jian Ci and Deng Wei should switch roles because of what I thought their characters should look like based on the novel. All I can say now, is that I can't really imagine them playing each other's characters anymore.
I'll admit right away that I have a soft spot for Yang Zi. She's a very talented actress, but even more than that she has a very pleasant on screen presence. She did really well portraying this character and I never doubted she would.
The surprise for me in this drama ended up being Tan Jian Ci. Xiang Liu was my favourite character in the novel and he portrayed him exceptionally well. So well, that I can't imagine anyone else in this role anymore.
Zhang Wan Yi was another pleasant surprise. While I could never bring myself to like his character, especially knowing all the things his character ended up doing in the novel, the drama version seems much softer and kinder and understandable in comparison and I can't bring myself to outright hate him. At least not yet.
Deng Wei did a good job as well. The unfortunate thing about his character is that compared to the previously mentioned characters, he's not as charismatic. He's the gentle and kind and quiet sort of character, sometimes frustratingly so, but there's something heartwarming about him. Unfortunately, people like that do end up suffering especially in a high position such as his.
Wang Hong Yi brought the boyish and straightforward Feng Long to life and he did it really well. I loved his character. This character didn't leave much of an impression on me in the novel, but I really loved him in the drama.
All in all, this was a really well made drama that did justice to the novel.
It's now time to move on to season 2.
I actually initially thought that Deng Wei and Tan Jian Ci should switch roles back when the casting news came out, because I thought they fit each others characters more based on appearance, but I changed my mind almost as soon as I started watching. Can't imagine them playing each others characters now.
This was one of those dramas that I anticipated the most, because I loved the novel and I really liked the cast. My expectations were high and this drama delivered. I absolutely LOVED it.
The cast did an amazing job with their characters. They were exactly what I expected. And above everything else, they were all likeable. The main five (yes, I'm including Cui Cui), are among the most likeable main 'teams' I've seen in dramas so far. I really loved their dynamic.
The story moves at a fast pace and there are almost no dull moments. The story itself is interesting and engaging. It's a nice blend of funny, cute and bright with emotional heavier themes. Love and affection in different forms is presented very nicely and it's definitely a thread connecting all the stories aside from the obvious connection to the overall mystery of the overarching plot.
This drama has made my rewatch list, which is probably the highest praise I can bestow on a drama.
I'm going to miss these characters until my next rewatch.
Especially in cases like this, where I really liked the novel and I like the cast, so I end up really excited to watch the drama. So far (I'm at episode 25 at the moment), I'm really loving it.
The likeable characters were the reason why I was able to stick with it till the end. I really liked the main couple. They are great as individual characters, but I also really liked them as a couple. Both are independent, intelligent, fierce and straightforward. As a couple, they have a lot of trust in each other and are very much equals. That's the aspect of their relationship that I really appreciated. The FL is strong and independent and is not a damsel in distress constantly waiting to be rescued. Instead, both the ML and the FL help each other, support each other and rescue each other. I really liked their dynamic and chemistry.
There is also a multitude of other likeable characters of which Xuanyuan Li Ge and Baili Wei Sheng stood out for me. Both provided an interesting counterbalance to the main leads, showing off characters with a different aura.
The biggest problem with this drama is that the storytelling is not focused. They crammed a lot in 40 episodes, which contributed to this drama lacking any tension. Things just happen one after the other. There's no buildup, no excitement and therefore also no payoff. They just travel from one kingdom to the next, have a fight, win and move on.
Another problem is there are too many characters. They come and go and move the story along, but rarely have a significant impact on it. A lot of them could have been cut out without any loss to the overall story.
All in all, it's an okay one time watch.
The cast did a great job portraying their characters. The only thing that initially bothered me was the fact that they cast all these actors and actresses over 30 to play characters that are basically teenagers/students. It's not convincing, but the drama moves past that part of the story swiftly enough and then their ages stop mattering all that much.
I've read comments complaining about the lack of romance between Xue Fang Fei and Xiao Heng. Personally, it didn't bother me. First of all, the focus of the story is not on their romance, but on the revenge and seeking justice. Secondly, the romance, while understated, is still there. There are plenty of scenes between the two leads showing their connection and trust in each other, however they can't really indulge in romance until they reach their goals. This is the reason why the extra episode was a cute addition to show how the characters interact when they're not under pressure.
All in all, I enjoyed this drama immensely.