This review may contain spoilers
the audience are the only sane ones here.
I wasn't planning on watching this drama after seeing some spoilers on Douyin. The famous “三人互捅+大风车 (three way stabbing + big windmill)" scene appeared to be too crazy and too unhinged that I expected a storyline full of plot-holes and lousy character development. But wow? I was blown away by every aspect of this drama, it was the drama (after a long time) where I wanted it to end but I also didn't want it to end at the same time? Anybody feels the same way?
But yes, sure, there were some plot-holes here and there. For instance, personally, I could not overlook how the king and Nan Heng's came to a resolution to their conflict. The king was at Nan Heng's throat for years, he had so much suspicions and was plotting different ways of killing Nan Heng off and then...it all just ended because Nan Heng sold his uncle out and also offered to give up his own army? But ok, even if the king was moved by Nan Heng's ways of reaching out to show that he was genuinely on his side, I wouldn't have been moved to the point that I would give him the crown prince role instead of the son that I had doted and pampered on for years. Besides, even before the empress was murdered, the king was never fond of Nan Heng. There were some theories on Douyin speculating that the king and Nan Heng were actually in cahoots together. That they planned this all from the start (or maybe even in the middle) to lure out the mastermind...but it just didn't work out for me.
Ok, that aside (you must be wondering why I even gave this drama a 10) - it's the amazing cast and the main storyline that worked out for me. It's hard to make a story moving, but it's even harder to make the audience laugh. Throughout the entire series, I was laughing and then crying and then doing both at the same time and my emotions were just a mess. Every character had their own character development, there were fairly good reasons behind their actions. I was so attached to every one of them (apart from Chu Gui Hong, but there's no denying that the actor playing him is stellar and is also a hottie), I had such a hard time bidding farewell. I was scrolling Douyin for days to catch up on their interactions, to watch their behind the scenes and just getting to know them. Even actors whom I had initial doubts for (e.g., Bambi and Liu Yu Ning), overturned my own unfavourable biased views of them in this drama. Actors whom I always liked (e.g., Li Yi Tong and Riley Wang), were accentuated by the roles that they played. And I also found underdog actors whom I look forward to seeing them again in another drama (the actors who played Ah Hu, Ah Long and Fu Gui - adorable ).
Although the story seemed insane and all over the place, there were times when side characters do pull us back to the lessons that the writer wants to tell us (and I love it, because it gives all these side characters a purpose in existing in the story). For example, when Fu Gui tries to convince Nan Heng that it didn't matter whether they were just characters in a story, as long as he is able to live the way he wants, he's satisfied. And it's the same for us living in this world, no? Song Yi Meng's character also taught us not to be clouded by our own judgment, every living being has a story and without knowing it, we should never set whatever we think we know of them in stone.
I love this drama and it'll be a drama that will be hard to beat for years to come. It's sad that this drama isn't a "proper" drama and probably wouldn't be considered for awards in year-end award shows. But even without the awards, I hope the entire cast and crew know that they have done such an outstanding job. From the costumes to the music and sound effects (I heard they spent a big portion of their budget on buying the copyrights for them), everything was flawless. It is no wonder that it is a drama that is so heavily discussed on social media platforms. It is a drama that offers you both a happy ending and a sad ending (if you stop watching at Ep 37) - it's like the childhood books that we read where we can determine where or how we want the ending to be.
I highly recommend this drama! You can watch and enjoy this drama however way you want - if you'd like to think and discuss about open-ended endings, this drama is for you. If you want a lighthearted and romantic story, this drama is for you. It is what you want it to be and I think that's what great about it! :)
But yes, sure, there were some plot-holes here and there. For instance, personally, I could not overlook how the king and Nan Heng's came to a resolution to their conflict. The king was at Nan Heng's throat for years, he had so much suspicions and was plotting different ways of killing Nan Heng off and then...it all just ended because Nan Heng sold his uncle out and also offered to give up his own army? But ok, even if the king was moved by Nan Heng's ways of reaching out to show that he was genuinely on his side, I wouldn't have been moved to the point that I would give him the crown prince role instead of the son that I had doted and pampered on for years. Besides, even before the empress was murdered, the king was never fond of Nan Heng. There were some theories on Douyin speculating that the king and Nan Heng were actually in cahoots together. That they planned this all from the start (or maybe even in the middle) to lure out the mastermind...but it just didn't work out for me.
Ok, that aside (you must be wondering why I even gave this drama a 10) - it's the amazing cast and the main storyline that worked out for me. It's hard to make a story moving, but it's even harder to make the audience laugh. Throughout the entire series, I was laughing and then crying and then doing both at the same time and my emotions were just a mess. Every character had their own character development, there were fairly good reasons behind their actions. I was so attached to every one of them (apart from Chu Gui Hong, but there's no denying that the actor playing him is stellar and is also a hottie), I had such a hard time bidding farewell. I was scrolling Douyin for days to catch up on their interactions, to watch their behind the scenes and just getting to know them. Even actors whom I had initial doubts for (e.g., Bambi and Liu Yu Ning), overturned my own unfavourable biased views of them in this drama. Actors whom I always liked (e.g., Li Yi Tong and Riley Wang), were accentuated by the roles that they played. And I also found underdog actors whom I look forward to seeing them again in another drama (the actors who played Ah Hu, Ah Long and Fu Gui - adorable ).
Although the story seemed insane and all over the place, there were times when side characters do pull us back to the lessons that the writer wants to tell us (and I love it, because it gives all these side characters a purpose in existing in the story). For example, when Fu Gui tries to convince Nan Heng that it didn't matter whether they were just characters in a story, as long as he is able to live the way he wants, he's satisfied. And it's the same for us living in this world, no? Song Yi Meng's character also taught us not to be clouded by our own judgment, every living being has a story and without knowing it, we should never set whatever we think we know of them in stone.
I love this drama and it'll be a drama that will be hard to beat for years to come. It's sad that this drama isn't a "proper" drama and probably wouldn't be considered for awards in year-end award shows. But even without the awards, I hope the entire cast and crew know that they have done such an outstanding job. From the costumes to the music and sound effects (I heard they spent a big portion of their budget on buying the copyrights for them), everything was flawless. It is no wonder that it is a drama that is so heavily discussed on social media platforms. It is a drama that offers you both a happy ending and a sad ending (if you stop watching at Ep 37) - it's like the childhood books that we read where we can determine where or how we want the ending to be.
I highly recommend this drama! You can watch and enjoy this drama however way you want - if you'd like to think and discuss about open-ended endings, this drama is for you. If you want a lighthearted and romantic story, this drama is for you. It is what you want it to be and I think that's what great about it! :)
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