This review may contain spoilers
This could've been the perfect Mulan live action, but they had to ruin it.
Firstly, beware of danger. If you're a perfeccionist like me, you must be warned: this was at least a nine until the last two episodes happened. I remember feeling pissed. So, so pissed. Note that I finished this back in november 2025, but I was just so frustrated that it took all this time for me to finally feel like writing anything. Anyway, let's get down to it.
The drama's pacing is quite ideal. From the few first episodes you're easily hooked with good revenge plot, smart and competent female protagonist in disguise and great dynamics with the male protagonist, that initially suspects He Yan of being an enemy spy inside his army. He Yan being able to see through his tests and outsmart him was the highlight of the first part of the show, prior the gender reveal. Their back and forth banter had the right amount of fun and chemistry.
And what chemistry, btw! I was really glad the gender reveal wasn't dragged out, since it saved our ML's face a little. It's always awkward to watch scenes with a certain romantic connotation while one of the characters involved is still unaware of the others real genre. So, the fact he found out about her pretty soon in the story was a great set up to their relationship's build up...
Which also brings this back to the first point I made:
Their relationship was so natural and well developed. They went from friends to partners, then to confidants and finally to lovers. The chemistry was through the roof. AND THEN. All of a sudden, the writers decided to put one of the greatest romances of chinese dramaland in the trash bin and all it took was one stupid scene. If I were in He Yan's place, I would never ever forgive Xiao Yue. I wouldn't even be able to look at his face anymore for the rest of my life.
That killed the romance for me and made me feel like everything that had happened between them was a lie. Xiao Yue's affection didn't seem as genuine and, from that point on, I couldn't make myself care about them as a couple anymore. Xiao Yue went from Hero to Zero.
So, my advice for anyone that still hasn't seen this yet is: sure, watch it. But skip the last two episodes, I beg you.
The drama's pacing is quite ideal. From the few first episodes you're easily hooked with good revenge plot, smart and competent female protagonist in disguise and great dynamics with the male protagonist, that initially suspects He Yan of being an enemy spy inside his army. He Yan being able to see through his tests and outsmart him was the highlight of the first part of the show, prior the gender reveal. Their back and forth banter had the right amount of fun and chemistry.
And what chemistry, btw! I was really glad the gender reveal wasn't dragged out, since it saved our ML's face a little. It's always awkward to watch scenes with a certain romantic connotation while one of the characters involved is still unaware of the others real genre. So, the fact he found out about her pretty soon in the story was a great set up to their relationship's build up...
Which also brings this back to the first point I made:
Their relationship was so natural and well developed. They went from friends to partners, then to confidants and finally to lovers. The chemistry was through the roof. AND THEN. All of a sudden, the writers decided to put one of the greatest romances of chinese dramaland in the trash bin and all it took was one stupid scene. If I were in He Yan's place, I would never ever forgive Xiao Yue. I wouldn't even be able to look at his face anymore for the rest of my life.
That killed the romance for me and made me feel like everything that had happened between them was a lie. Xiao Yue's affection didn't seem as genuine and, from that point on, I couldn't make myself care about them as a couple anymore. Xiao Yue went from Hero to Zero.
So, my advice for anyone that still hasn't seen this yet is: sure, watch it. But skip the last two episodes, I beg you.
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