frankly

I had low expectations given the low ratings, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this drama. From the get go, I knew this was going to be dark. This is not your happy, feel-good kind of drama, so if that’s what you are looking for, skip this. If you like character development, realistic motivations, and a good story line, then give it a try.

The good:
- leads and supporting cast did a fabulous job
- character development
- Qing Ci’s cunning plans and his ability to quickly improvise
- supporting characters had their own strong personalities
- good villains that were actually good at complex scheming

The bad:
- felt rushed at the end and though the ending was ok, it could have been better
- Zhu Yan plot line felt the weakest
- not sure if it was the character or portrayal of the character, but the Emperor was lackluster for me

Don’t read beyond this point as major spoilers will be discussed.

Character Development/Motivations

Fei Kou Er -> Su Yun Luo: She has only ever really known one person in her life, her master Su Xuan. She has no concept of real love nor how to express it, having spent the last 10 years of her life with only the goal of saving her master. Enter Zuo Qing Ci, who slowly chips away her hardened exterior to imbue love into her lifeless soul. After fulfilling her lifelong selfish goal to save her master, she learns to open her heart to Qing Ci for her own selfish reasons, and then finally give him her love as well as support his goals selflessly. Zhang Ya Qin portrayed this beautifully - cold and driven at the onset, uncertain and wavering between her life’s goal and her unexpected desires for Qing Ci, to the full acceptance of loving Qing Ci and the vulnerability it brings.

Zuo Qing Ci -> True King: Abandoned by his father out of duty to the Emperor/country, poisoned by enemies, entrusted to a Master Doctor by his dying mother, and alone facing death, Qing Ci resigns himself to the inevitable. Enter a young Su Yun Luo, who kidnaps Qing Ci to force his Master Doctor to save her master. Her tears and pleas for him to live (for the sake of her master) gives him hope that someone can actually care about him, encouraging him to endure and live unfettered from his tortured past. Though weak and sickly, he grows into a brilliant and cunning strategist, as well as a doctor. He falls in love with Yun Luo, forcing her to make choices between him and her master, selfishly, …until certain events lead him to work towards a cause for the greater good. His love for Yun Luo shifts from personal desire, to supporting her goals, and then selfless love for the greater good. Zhang Yao portrayed this remarkably - a lovesick puppy at the start, uncertain and wavering between his love for Yun Luo and what must be done to protect the Emperor/country, to the full acceptance of giving his life for the people. He reminded me of Liu Hao Ran in NIF2 who also did a wonderful job in his role as Ping Jing.

All the characters in the drama have experienced some type of loss which has shaped them to be who they are, with all their flaws from being scarred from these experiences, hence driving their motivations to achieve their goals. I could empathize with them and the choices they made.