4
This review may contain spoilers
A spoonful of sugar helps the dodgy script go down
This show aimed high, but ultimately missed the mark. Much of the blame lies with the script.
Let's take a step back and look at the fundamentals. Early plot progression feels like bullet points in a presentation. It leaps about rather than flows.
Our FL went from hero to zero in a few scenes. Her whole backstory was summarised on the back of a napkin and took about as long to play out on screen.
Two issues are soon apparent. Firstly, this drama is based on a web novel, but it cherry picked key scenes and subplots. It feels like we are doing a high-level storyboard walkthrough with thin lines connecting the scenes.
For instance, the FL in the novel died and soul swapped with a girl from a poorer family. This is fundamental to her story arc and eventual growth. Our FL didn't die so her history and skill base stays the same. It is more a sidestep than a rebirth. It fundamentally changed the depth of her struggles.
Secondly, whatever tracking device the FL is using, I want one! Any time the FL is in mortal danger, either the ML or her sifu will come to her rescue. It is uncanny.
A case in point, the BLIND FL "stumbled" up a mountain while being chased by her assailant. Really? After falling down a cliff, she is found by her sifu who happens to be tramping there. The plot armour is next level!
There are also serious plot holes. The FL was forced to take on the identity of her stepbrother, He Ru Fei, since she was a child. I have nightmares about masks now, just saying.
Her brother returns at the start of this series. Pushes her aside unceremoniously and subsumed all her glories and merits. He then poisons, blinds and tries to silence her with extreme prejudice. That's brotherly love!
Then this "fake/real" General He arrives in court to accuse the ML's dead father of traitorous acts. The man has a different voice, is a head taller than the FL. How can the ML not notice that?! That plot hole is big enough to drive a Big White Truck of Doom™ through!
But wait, there is more! The first dozen or so EP has the FL playing Mulan in a training camp. We have all the cliché moments. They are low hanging fruits.
My jaw dropped when the ML suddenly realises the FL is a girl the moment her chest touches his back. Holy Mother of Drama Gods! How? Did the FL not bind her chest? She dressed as a man every day and nothing "shows". Inconceivable!
I almost sloth quit several times by this point but I hung on with grim determination. Sunk cost fallacy is real, my friend.
The show changed tack and sends them on an undercover mission as a married couple. Yes, you guessed it. All the couple/dating tropes got an airing. Oh, the sugar highs, I gave it a second chance. I'm weak, ok? Don't judge me!
I can't deny our OTP have their swoon-y moments. It did drag on a bit too long, nothing new there. We finally get a proper confession (drunken ones don't count, apparently) and the skinship blossoms. It was rainbow and unicorns for a while, but another problem loomed large, the pacing.
Normally, we would get a final confrontation with the antagonist just in time for the HEA ending. In this case, it happened several eps too soon. We did get an episode of fan service, and I can't complain. There is no way we are going to get 4 eps of fan service. I'm not that naïve.
Sure enough, the show hit us with the angst train. To wit, the SML manipulated the King so that he can wed the FL by royal decree, thus sundering our OTP.
To cut the story short, the FL marched into the palace and told the King this is total BS. Think Éowyn in the Return of The King. ;) Instead of sending her to Siberia, he capitulated. Just. Like. That.
Our leads ends up in a de facto arrangement and sworn to forsake all others. Geez, that's a win-win for His Majesty, not! Did we just wasted an episode?
The ending arrives as predicted. I'm not going to spoil it. One hint, the show came full circle. ;)
It pains me to pen this. I had high hopes. It should be a slam dunk. When it is good, it is very watchable. The battle scenes are mostly style over substance, but they are impressive! The romance is sweet with a decent amount of skinship. Acting is decent. The sets, costumes and OST are all above average. It just needs a good, solid script. Did no-one proofread it?
So close, yet so far. Peace.
Let's take a step back and look at the fundamentals. Early plot progression feels like bullet points in a presentation. It leaps about rather than flows.
Our FL went from hero to zero in a few scenes. Her whole backstory was summarised on the back of a napkin and took about as long to play out on screen.
Two issues are soon apparent. Firstly, this drama is based on a web novel, but it cherry picked key scenes and subplots. It feels like we are doing a high-level storyboard walkthrough with thin lines connecting the scenes.
For instance, the FL in the novel died and soul swapped with a girl from a poorer family. This is fundamental to her story arc and eventual growth. Our FL didn't die so her history and skill base stays the same. It is more a sidestep than a rebirth. It fundamentally changed the depth of her struggles.
Secondly, whatever tracking device the FL is using, I want one! Any time the FL is in mortal danger, either the ML or her sifu will come to her rescue. It is uncanny.
A case in point, the BLIND FL "stumbled" up a mountain while being chased by her assailant. Really? After falling down a cliff, she is found by her sifu who happens to be tramping there. The plot armour is next level!
There are also serious plot holes. The FL was forced to take on the identity of her stepbrother, He Ru Fei, since she was a child. I have nightmares about masks now, just saying.
Her brother returns at the start of this series. Pushes her aside unceremoniously and subsumed all her glories and merits. He then poisons, blinds and tries to silence her with extreme prejudice. That's brotherly love!
Then this "fake/real" General He arrives in court to accuse the ML's dead father of traitorous acts. The man has a different voice, is a head taller than the FL. How can the ML not notice that?! That plot hole is big enough to drive a Big White Truck of Doom™ through!
But wait, there is more! The first dozen or so EP has the FL playing Mulan in a training camp. We have all the cliché moments. They are low hanging fruits.
My jaw dropped when the ML suddenly realises the FL is a girl the moment her chest touches his back. Holy Mother of Drama Gods! How? Did the FL not bind her chest? She dressed as a man every day and nothing "shows". Inconceivable!
I almost sloth quit several times by this point but I hung on with grim determination. Sunk cost fallacy is real, my friend.
The show changed tack and sends them on an undercover mission as a married couple. Yes, you guessed it. All the couple/dating tropes got an airing. Oh, the sugar highs, I gave it a second chance. I'm weak, ok? Don't judge me!
I can't deny our OTP have their swoon-y moments. It did drag on a bit too long, nothing new there. We finally get a proper confession (drunken ones don't count, apparently) and the skinship blossoms. It was rainbow and unicorns for a while, but another problem loomed large, the pacing.
Normally, we would get a final confrontation with the antagonist just in time for the HEA ending. In this case, it happened several eps too soon. We did get an episode of fan service, and I can't complain. There is no way we are going to get 4 eps of fan service. I'm not that naïve.
Sure enough, the show hit us with the angst train. To wit, the SML manipulated the King so that he can wed the FL by royal decree, thus sundering our OTP.
To cut the story short, the FL marched into the palace and told the King this is total BS. Think Éowyn in the Return of The King. ;) Instead of sending her to Siberia, he capitulated. Just. Like. That.
Our leads ends up in a de facto arrangement and sworn to forsake all others. Geez, that's a win-win for His Majesty, not! Did we just wasted an episode?
The ending arrives as predicted. I'm not going to spoil it. One hint, the show came full circle. ;)
It pains me to pen this. I had high hopes. It should be a slam dunk. When it is good, it is very watchable. The battle scenes are mostly style over substance, but they are impressive! The romance is sweet with a decent amount of skinship. Acting is decent. The sets, costumes and OST are all above average. It just needs a good, solid script. Did no-one proofread it?
So close, yet so far. Peace.
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