The romance is a subplot, but what is there is so sweet, definitely worth a watch! If you can just push through to when the ML meets FL, after that a lot of his time and energy is spent on her. The other ML and FL become a couple too.
The bromance and the romance was enough to keep me interested, and I'm so glad I stuck with it because it's a pretty special story, just the way all their lives go... That said, there's a bit of an open ending though, kinda difficult to move on from it without a second season. 😥 (but even so it's worth it imho, even if it's just to see some great acting by Wu Lei 🥰)
I have been rewatching this many times but I can’t get over the fact that the FL character is self centered…
I think the reason FL seems self-centered, naive and full of confidence is because she is a princess. Like all royalty, she's raised to think that she's a cut above all the rest. And like she has a duty or responsibility to her people that can't be ignored. She has also received special attention from her uncle who taught her strategy, martial arts, etc. as if she were a prince. So she believes she is more capable than her cousin Leyan, for example.
She's smart, but not invincible. She's human and makes mistakes. Often, when she thinks she knows better, she immediately gets schooled by someone with more experience. I love that! It chips away at her ego and gives her a chance to learn. One of my fav parts is when ML loses his temper and calls her out... If she was perfect, this scene wouldn't exist?! 😅
She's self-centered when it comes to her revenge, especially at the start. But after a few setbacks, (devastating) losses, and reality checks... she loses her naivety and actually changes, putting the people of Tang before everything else. Which is some nice character development, I think. It would be pretty boring if she had no flaws, right?
And we can't forget that being super stubborn is one of her character traits! 😂
Wu Lei's character smokes in this one, right? He plays a smoker in All Ears too, but it kinda looked like the smoke was hurting his eyes in those scenes 🥲😖
One thing I love about this show is the pacing, it's not slow but doesn't feel too fast either. I managed to binge it all in a week, and only felt some "fatigue" around ep 44 or so. This is coming from someone who had only ever watched J-dramas which were around 9-12 eps long, so it's pretty crazy for me to devour 49 eps in such a short time.
This was also my first C-drama, and after I finished it, I immediately started re-watching the whole thing again! (and then... the need to see more of Wu Lei... had overtaken me! 😂)
Since then I've watched some other C-dramas... (not many, but hey at least I've got something to compare it to! 😅) So I know TLB is not perfect... but I still like it a lot, I really recommend it! There are quite a few scenes that use comic book style art/animation, especially the war stuff (to save money, I assume) but the pacing and acting is top tier imho. Also, the side characters are just as interesting as the main characters and kept me invested in their stories right to the end. ❤️
Friendship, bromance, a sprinkle of fluffy romance, and retro vibes. ❤️
Wu Lei plays Xiao Chuang, who at first seems like a pretty cheesy (but likeable!) character. This guy deliberately and unashamedly be dropping some mad corny lines outta nowhere like he is some kinda hero in a movie, pretending to be cool. The funny thing is that he actually can be really cool when he's not actively "trying" to be. He is 100% extroverted and a Big (capital B!) risk-taker who always appears to be full of confidence and arrogance, but there is more to him than meets the eye. 😭
Hou Minghao plays his (original) best bro, Pei Qing Hua. An occasionally sarcastic but mostly serious introvert, who is never afraid to call out his best friend when he needs to. He is rigid and logical while Xiao Chuang is free and emotional.
There is a good contrast between their personalities and beliefs, which keeps their interactions interesting and believable. Their friendship is super heartwarming. (I still can't get over Pei Qing Hua's letter!)
Both of them start with lots of room for character development. Over the years, you get to see them change and grow in a few areas, and stay the same in other areas... (I'm looking at you Xiao Chuang, pls 😩)
There are some scenes I just can't forget. If you allow yourself to become invested in the characters, I would say that the pay-off is absolutely worth it imo—despite the open ending.
Which brings me to my only complaint: it ends on a cliffhanger, the story is not finished at all!
So where is season 2????? I saw the teaser/preview, pls tencent I need it bad.
Otherwise I'm gonna have to learn Chinese and read the novel 😭
31 
102 
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1 
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6 
1 
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4 
6 
2 
2 
1 
3 
5 
1 
1 
1 
3 
3 
7 
The bromance and the romance was enough to keep me interested, and I'm so glad I stuck with it because it's a pretty special story, just the way all their lives go... That said, there's a bit of an open ending though, kinda difficult to move on from it without a second season. 😥 (but even so it's worth it imho, even if it's just to see some great acting by Wu Lei 🥰)
She's smart, but not invincible. She's human and makes mistakes. Often, when she thinks she knows better, she immediately gets schooled by someone with more experience. I love that! It chips away at her ego and gives her a chance to learn. One of my fav parts is when ML loses his temper and calls her out... If she was perfect, this scene wouldn't exist?! 😅
She's self-centered when it comes to her revenge, especially at the start. But after a few setbacks, (devastating) losses, and reality checks... she loses her naivety and actually changes, putting the people of Tang before everything else. Which is some nice character development, I think. It would be pretty boring if she had no flaws, right?
And we can't forget that being super stubborn is one of her character traits! 😂
They all sound great haha, so much to add to my plan to watch now! 😂
I agreee Zhao Lusi is great~❤️
Love her in TLB and love, love, looove her in LLTG with Wu Lei 🥰
This was also my first C-drama, and after I finished it, I immediately started re-watching the whole thing again! (and then... the need to see more of Wu Lei... had overtaken me! 😂)
Since then I've watched some other C-dramas... (not many, but hey at least I've got something to compare it to! 😅) So I know TLB is not perfect... but I still like it a lot, I really recommend it! There are quite a few scenes that use comic book style art/animation, especially the war stuff (to save money, I assume) but the pacing and acting is top tier imho. Also, the side characters are just as interesting as the main characters and kept me invested in their stories right to the end. ❤️
Why are they just sitting on all of that footage? 😭
and Wu Lei is soooo good in Nothing But You, can't wait to see him in this one too ❤️
I can't wait that long, I need it nowwww 😭
Wu Lei plays Xiao Chuang, who at first seems like a pretty cheesy (but likeable!) character. This guy deliberately and unashamedly be dropping some mad corny lines outta nowhere like he is some kinda hero in a movie, pretending to be cool. The funny thing is that he actually can be really cool when he's not actively "trying" to be. He is 100% extroverted and a Big (capital B!) risk-taker who always appears to be full of confidence and arrogance, but there is more to him than meets the eye. 😭
Hou Minghao plays his (original) best bro, Pei Qing Hua. An occasionally sarcastic but mostly serious introvert, who is never afraid to call out his best friend when he needs to. He is rigid and logical while Xiao Chuang is free and emotional.
There is a good contrast between their personalities and beliefs, which keeps their interactions interesting and believable. Their friendship is super heartwarming. (I still can't get over Pei Qing Hua's letter!)
Both of them start with lots of room for character development. Over the years, you get to see them change and grow in a few areas, and stay the same in other areas... (I'm looking at you Xiao Chuang, pls 😩)
There are some scenes I just can't forget. If you allow yourself to become invested in the characters, I would say that the pay-off is absolutely worth it imo—despite the open ending.
Which brings me to my only complaint: it ends on a cliffhanger, the story is not finished at all!
So where is season 2????? I saw the teaser/preview, pls tencent I need it bad.
Otherwise I'm gonna have to learn Chinese and read the novel 😭