Aesthetic but loud and unmemorable
I expected more from the drama starring Zhang Ling He. But something helped me overcome my skepticism: the scenery and supporting characters!
The sets here are so beautiful that you can pause and examine the details (which is what I did). The Nan Yan's home, the whale boat, the markets, the courtyards of the sects - they are all amazing! The multitude of small details, the color scheme, the general shots - everything creates the right atmosphere, from coziness to ostentatious grandeur.
The supporting characters are colorful, vivid, not annoying, moderately dramatic, and moderately comical. The little dragon and the fox are absolutely outstanding.
The main couple was cute, funny, and dramatic. And I'm even embarrassed that their storyline didn't hook me.
I didn't like the sound design. There are a lot of comedic sounds, which feel strange and generally out of place. Of course, this is my subjective opinion, but I don't like such loud sounds. And the music in general is loud, pompous, and often draws attention to itself instead of emphasizing the emotions of the scene.
I also didn't like the editing and the rhythm of the narrative. I read that four episodes were cut. Maybe it would have been better with them... But even so, there is too much talking. The characters voice their thoughts, intentions, and actions. The final fight is not a fight at all, but a long, pompous conversation with threats. It starts to seem like the script was written by a novice. And overall, the plot is quite predictable and clichéd.
In general, I thought the drama is mediocre. Only the older generation evoked my emotions, and only the scenery and a couple of supporting characters were memorable. I really expected more from my favorite genre and the magnificent Zhang Ling He.
The sets here are so beautiful that you can pause and examine the details (which is what I did). The Nan Yan's home, the whale boat, the markets, the courtyards of the sects - they are all amazing! The multitude of small details, the color scheme, the general shots - everything creates the right atmosphere, from coziness to ostentatious grandeur.
The supporting characters are colorful, vivid, not annoying, moderately dramatic, and moderately comical. The little dragon and the fox are absolutely outstanding.
The main couple was cute, funny, and dramatic. And I'm even embarrassed that their storyline didn't hook me.
I didn't like the sound design. There are a lot of comedic sounds, which feel strange and generally out of place. Of course, this is my subjective opinion, but I don't like such loud sounds. And the music in general is loud, pompous, and often draws attention to itself instead of emphasizing the emotions of the scene.
I also didn't like the editing and the rhythm of the narrative. I read that four episodes were cut. Maybe it would have been better with them... But even so, there is too much talking. The characters voice their thoughts, intentions, and actions. The final fight is not a fight at all, but a long, pompous conversation with threats. It starts to seem like the script was written by a novice. And overall, the plot is quite predictable and clichéd.
In general, I thought the drama is mediocre. Only the older generation evoked my emotions, and only the scenery and a couple of supporting characters were memorable. I really expected more from my favorite genre and the magnificent Zhang Ling He.
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