Flawed plot but the depth is clear
Mystery/investigation dramas are my Achilles' heel.
BoJian was solid, however I think for Follow your Heart, this theme wasn't as strong as I hoped it to be. To make peace, this is viewed as a romance drama first and foremost - a tale of fate, comedy, healing the wounds we carry, and everyday/slice of life in the historical era of China.
If you can have this perspective, discarding the expectation of strong plot points and definitely throwing loopholes out of the window, I strongly believe this drama still retains its charms and can be thoroughly enjoyed.
First and foremost is there's absolutely no need for 40 episodes. I think 30 would've suffice, but we must remember the average episode count used to be 50-70 :') The goal seems to be that longer episode dramas have a higher chance of boosting viewership. emotional investment in characters, and high ratings. Hence even after the law has passed, the max of 40 seems to be what the industry clings to now.
For Luo Yunxi fans, this one is not to be missed. I had put this off in 2024 when it aired because it didn't seem like my cup of tea plot wise (as opposed to crime drama). I was on a plane to Beijing last year when the passenger across me happened to be watching this and he looked so much like a noble prince I gawked for a while and knew it was high time I flocked to watch it too LOL.
The performance is wonderful from all the cast. It has been a very long time since I was fuming at certain characters like I did for Suoluo (if you know, you know), physician Bai most especially that DEAN UGH. Just their appearances in the screen is enough to make blood boil. The villains are villany - and it's worth the watch.
I'm no stranger to my own insecurities, painful wounds or certain features that births the unwelcomed shame burning in the heart. Song Yi's performance of a girl who shapeshifts unwillingly is truly profound.
She truly believes she's a weirdo who can't have friends and destined to be lonely and unloved aside from her mom - such visceral portrayal of shame, pain, the desire to hide and immense fear is in her every expression and movements. She is afraid of people getting too close, knowing her secret and leave out of disgust.
It resonated deeply (which I hadn't expected going into this drama) and will make a lot of people feel very seen. It's difficult to overlook that Luo Yunxi somehow always picks dramas with depth, profound messages and values to impose on the viewer, and this one didn't dissapoint.
His expressions speak the wound so clearly "how can I bond with someone, when I can't even recognise them?" , you can't help but care about his character for being able to distinguish people by their intentions rather than purely looks. Once you see that Luo Yunxi has a aptitude for holding his tears for the shot, just raw, unrestrained emotions, you can't unsee it.
Despite possessing the wound of unable to even recognise his loved ones, it is this very trait that made the romance cut deep in viewers' hearts. True love is beyond appearances, and recognising one's soul through senses that borders on the spiritual side.
BoJian was solid, however I think for Follow your Heart, this theme wasn't as strong as I hoped it to be. To make peace, this is viewed as a romance drama first and foremost - a tale of fate, comedy, healing the wounds we carry, and everyday/slice of life in the historical era of China.
If you can have this perspective, discarding the expectation of strong plot points and definitely throwing loopholes out of the window, I strongly believe this drama still retains its charms and can be thoroughly enjoyed.
First and foremost is there's absolutely no need for 40 episodes. I think 30 would've suffice, but we must remember the average episode count used to be 50-70 :') The goal seems to be that longer episode dramas have a higher chance of boosting viewership. emotional investment in characters, and high ratings. Hence even after the law has passed, the max of 40 seems to be what the industry clings to now.
For Luo Yunxi fans, this one is not to be missed. I had put this off in 2024 when it aired because it didn't seem like my cup of tea plot wise (as opposed to crime drama). I was on a plane to Beijing last year when the passenger across me happened to be watching this and he looked so much like a noble prince I gawked for a while and knew it was high time I flocked to watch it too LOL.
The performance is wonderful from all the cast. It has been a very long time since I was fuming at certain characters like I did for Suoluo (if you know, you know), physician Bai most especially that DEAN UGH. Just their appearances in the screen is enough to make blood boil. The villains are villany - and it's worth the watch.
I'm no stranger to my own insecurities, painful wounds or certain features that births the unwelcomed shame burning in the heart. Song Yi's performance of a girl who shapeshifts unwillingly is truly profound.
She truly believes she's a weirdo who can't have friends and destined to be lonely and unloved aside from her mom - such visceral portrayal of shame, pain, the desire to hide and immense fear is in her every expression and movements. She is afraid of people getting too close, knowing her secret and leave out of disgust.
It resonated deeply (which I hadn't expected going into this drama) and will make a lot of people feel very seen. It's difficult to overlook that Luo Yunxi somehow always picks dramas with depth, profound messages and values to impose on the viewer, and this one didn't dissapoint.
His expressions speak the wound so clearly "how can I bond with someone, when I can't even recognise them?" , you can't help but care about his character for being able to distinguish people by their intentions rather than purely looks. Once you see that Luo Yunxi has a aptitude for holding his tears for the shot, just raw, unrestrained emotions, you can't unsee it.
Despite possessing the wound of unable to even recognise his loved ones, it is this very trait that made the romance cut deep in viewers' hearts. True love is beyond appearances, and recognising one's soul through senses that borders on the spiritual side.
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