I watched this series without thinking about the original and I liked it alot. I feel that many who are comparing with the OG might not be enjoying it as much, which is a real pity. Why must you torture yourself and take out the enjoyment upon yourself? lol
This series isn’t a masterpiece or a 10/10, however it was satisfying enough to watch. Given the length of the series the writers and actors/actresses did their best to showcase the story. I do think the finale episode was rushed, jammed in a lot of situations to make a happy ending. On an overall scale of the series- it was a good 8/10. It would have been great if they extended the show for 4 more episodes, just to flesh out some things. My man Hwang Inyoup finally is the lead and gets the girl, so it’s a 8.5/10 for me (:.
Overall, I advise anyone watching this series to not think of the original story. But to view this as its own version, a kdrama version, and really take in the story, the struggle, and the bonds that these 3 kids and their family shared. Just follow the story and enjoy the moment. I liked it.
This drama got to have the most annoying Moms and unlikable characters in all of dramas I watched. Congratulation to the actresses and actors because they played well. I liked Yangzi and Xukai, and even then it was painful.
The Mom is angry because the elite looks down on the low class, but she kept selling her daughter to the rich because she wants the status.
The dynamic between the leads are not uncommon in most family/rom-com drama. One side is super rich, but estranged family. One side is low class but having a loving family. However, at least some of those dramas have likable characters. Adding comedic music in the background does not make an unlikeable character, likeable or comedic.
This drama probably resonate well with majority of Asian family, especially those that are still traditionals or have similar upbringing.
I just watched 15 episodes of 2 people bickering, going on dates, doing a push and pull, and flirt with each other. Am I third wheeling? Yes. Do I feel like Im interrupting their dates? Yes. Do I like it ? Yes. So what did I do? I watch the remaining 24 episodes.
Your first love might not be your last love. People move on in life, and they look back at the fond memories made. It does not matter who she married, but it matter who she spent her youthfulness with.
People are crying about the leads not ending up together, but ignored how happy both of them are at the end of the drama. How many lovers do you see in highschool, of those- how many stayed together or even keeping contact with. If you still have contacts, that is something precious few are privileged to.
Also, shady on the production company to use Kim Yoonah's song 25,21 and made a drama with the same title and only notified her of it AFTER they made public presentation. That's disgusting and disingenuous. They even had her OST somewhere in the episodes too.
Maybe the drama was trying to do too much at once, that everything else is lackluster. Trying to balance out politics, scheming and business- that they didn't do any of that part right. At the beginning it seems like a rom-com with a hint of business like Blossom Adversity or New Life Begins. Then gradually it becomes political, darker, and filler with business as a plot armor just so they can raise money and give it out lol.
With so much blood shed, I think a tragedy tag should also be here. Comedy within the 1/3, the rest I don't think I even laughed once.
Great scenery, settings, actor and actress played well. It's just so sad the story didn't capture how well this was filmed. And it's not like they cheaped out on costumes either!!! I wished they sticked to the revenge and darker theme than this melo-slow motion reel for every parting and meeting, drama. It was a super waste tbh. Ah....
Wu Jin Yan is a wanted woman everywhere, in The Double and now also in here. She's a great actress.
If you like Blossom in Adversity, then you'll definitely like this too. At the beginning I thought it'll be the normal trope of concubines, 3rd to the X wife becoming monsters, scheming and out for each other's throat, but was very pleasantly surprised by the turn of events.
Business, sisterhood, and heartwarming story. Other reviews have a much more vivid descriptions, so all I can add on is; it's definitely worth a watch.
Surprisingly, a happy ending. I thought a lead would die but no one did lol.
The story is not the most well-written ones. Thought it could be shorter total episodes. However, there are no tragedy, so no worries for that.
Do majority of young actors go to the same acting school? They all are similar, lacking emotion behind the eyes or facial expressions. The actress of current generation do carries these drama.
I think this could of been 15 episodes shorter. Not sure why it made to 40, maybe the director wanted to milk the 2 leads lol. The story is cliche, hierarchy, rich vs poor, blackmail for breakup etc, however, I believe it could of been much better if the writing was good.
YangYang really need to work on his expression and acting, it was disappointing. Reminds me of Leo Wu acting. Wang Churan is much more expressive, she stands out when acting next to YangYang.
The only thing that is 10/10 for me are those rescuers, workers, and everyone who made the world goes around without getting noticed. Hats off to them.
It depends on how you look at the drama. By him dying XFF is free to be her true self. She can now marry XH with…
I don't count that as redemption for him, more like she was set free due to his inability to truly recognized his wrong doing. Even in the last moment he still tried to kill her and Xiao Heng at that ChangAn gate with the Longwu army. He had again and again did tried to help XFF, not exposing her, helped her from Wanning, but he couldn't keep that up and begins to fall further and further, most likely due to jealousy of Xiao Heng and the delusion that XFF still loved him.
I wanted him to redeem by faking alliance with the Prince Cheng and somehow uses the Longwu army to turn the tides and in return sacrificing himself. But I think that would be too ideal, too cliche. That's why I am not a drama writer I guess :D.
Wu Jin Yan can really act as if her life depends on it. Such an impressive actress. Also currently following her Kill Me Love Me drama. Li Meng as Wanning, first time seeing her project, impressed.
Liang Yong Qi played a despicable character that I really wanted a redemption arc from. But alas it did not happen. Great actor.
A mature (writing) show with character growth. Drama like these aren't my cup of tea because Im more into wuxia: you fly here, you fly there, find martial art manuals kind of drama lol. However, I am glad I gave this a chance because it deserved the rating.
Don't think of this as a romance, revenge, or scheming type of drama, but think of it as a slice of life that is set in older days China with servants, masters, rulers and subjects, etc. The Hua's family went through tribulations and each members had character growth. Knowing their short coming, their greed, having family disputes, hierarchy's, betrayal and much more. No true villain or deep scheming, but really just everyone tries to live the best life that they possibly can with what they have.
I thought the supporting cast were all fantastic. They did what they could with the material and made it an amazing show. Lu Yu Xiao, first saw her in My Journey to You, thought she was amazing. She nailed this role too. First time seeing Zhang Jing Yi project, great actress, she's also very very pretty. The male lead, I am not sure but maybe they miscast the role as I don't see a general who went through countless battles in the North to keep the borders clean, or a ruthless Commander. as he looks naive, a kind face or harsher way to put it -a blank face-, it was not convincing.
The show is different from what I am used to, maybe that's why I liked it. I think everyone definitely should give this a try.
This is an amazing background synopsis for characters in JOL as well as drama recap. Thank you for bringing attention to the drama without providing too much spoilers (to the character)~
If you hadn't done so, check the drama out! It's simply amazing, top 5 for me.
An extremely fast paced LOCH. Only 30 episodes to depict the whole novel. At the end of episode 30, I am assuming they are setting up for ROCH for season 2. This series felt like a summarization of main events from the novel.
However, reading the comments made me think that season2 most likely won't come due to how bad the ratings are. I am not sure why they had to rush LOCH, they could of done a remake like every other editions.
I thought Bao Shang En did great as Huang Rong. Reminds me of Ariel Lin, she also did good. Everytime this series get a remake, it never failed me to see how well they casted Guo Jing, because his stupidity, naive, and non-common sense is out of this world. Thank the novel lord that he had Huang Rong.
Meng Zi Yi was Mu Nianci in 2017, but she's Mei Chao Feng here. Haha, I knew I recognized her somewhere!
K-Drama 
This series isn’t a masterpiece or a 10/10, however it was satisfying enough to watch. Given the length of the series the writers and actors/actresses did their best to showcase the story. I do think the finale episode was rushed, jammed in a lot of situations to make a happy ending. On an overall scale of the series- it was a good 8/10. It would have been great if they extended the show for 4 more episodes, just to flesh out some things. My man Hwang Inyoup finally is the lead and gets the girl, so it’s a 8.5/10 for me (:.
Overall, I advise anyone watching this series to not think of the original story. But to view this as its own version, a kdrama version, and really take in the story, the struggle, and the bonds that these 3 kids and their family shared. Just follow the story and enjoy the moment. I liked it.
Also, bring some tissues.
The Mom is angry because the elite looks down on the low class, but she kept selling her daughter to the rich because she wants the status.
The dynamic between the leads are not uncommon in most family/rom-com drama. One side is super rich, but estranged family. One side is low class but having a loving family. However, at least some of those dramas have likable characters. Adding comedic music in the background does not make an unlikeable character, likeable or comedic.
This drama probably resonate well with majority of Asian family, especially those that are still traditionals or have similar upbringing.
Am I third wheeling? Yes.
Do I feel like Im interrupting their dates? Yes.
Do I like it ? Yes.
So what did I do? I watch the remaining 24 episodes.
Thank you for reading my review.
Highly recommend 9/10.
People are crying about the leads not ending up together, but ignored how happy both of them are at the end of the drama. How many lovers do you see in highschool, of those- how many stayed together or even keeping contact with. If you still have contacts, that is something precious few are privileged to.
Also, shady on the production company to use Kim Yoonah's song 25,21 and made a drama with the same title and only notified her of it AFTER they made public presentation. That's disgusting and disingenuous. They even had her OST somewhere in the episodes too.
She has always been great since I first saw her in Under The Power.
With so much blood shed, I think a tragedy tag should also be here. Comedy within the 1/3, the rest I don't think I even laughed once.
Wu Jin Yan is a wanted woman everywhere, in The Double and now also in here. She's a great actress.
Business, sisterhood, and heartwarming story. Other reviews have a much more vivid descriptions, so all I can add on is; it's definitely worth a watch.
The story is not the most well-written ones. Thought it could be shorter total episodes.
However, there are no tragedy, so no worries for that.
Do majority of young actors go to the same acting school? They all are similar, lacking emotion behind the eyes or facial expressions. The actress of current generation do carries these drama.
YangYang really need to work on his expression and acting, it was disappointing. Reminds me of Leo Wu acting. Wang Churan is much more expressive, she stands out when acting next to YangYang.
The only thing that is 10/10 for me are those rescuers, workers, and everyone who made the world goes around without getting noticed. Hats off to them.
Reminds me of younger days. Ah.. it's great to be youthful.. ;-;.
Highly Recommend.
I wanted him to redeem by faking alliance with the Prince Cheng and somehow uses the Longwu army to turn the tides and in return sacrificing himself. But I think that would be too ideal, too cliche. That's why I am not a drama writer I guess :D.
We all do not know when S3 will come, so I guess lets be insane together? @_@
Liang Yong Qi played a despicable character that I really wanted a redemption arc from. But alas it did not happen. Great actor.
Don't think of this as a romance, revenge, or scheming type of drama, but think of it as a slice of life that is set in older days China with servants, masters, rulers and subjects, etc. The Hua's family went through tribulations and each members had character growth. Knowing their short coming, their greed, having family disputes, hierarchy's, betrayal and much more. No true villain or deep scheming, but really just everyone tries to live the best life that they possibly can with what they have.
I thought the supporting cast were all fantastic. They did what they could with the material and made it an amazing show. Lu Yu Xiao, first saw her in My Journey to You, thought she was amazing. She nailed this role too. First time seeing Zhang Jing Yi project, great actress, she's also very very pretty. The male lead, I am not sure but maybe they miscast the role as I don't see a general who went through countless battles in the North to keep the borders clean, or a ruthless Commander. as he looks naive, a kind face or harsher way to put it -a blank face-, it was not convincing.
The show is different from what I am used to, maybe that's why I liked it. I think everyone definitely should give this a try.
If you hadn't done so, check the drama out! It's simply amazing, top 5 for me.
However, reading the comments made me think that season2 most likely won't come due to how bad the ratings are. I am not sure why they had to rush LOCH, they could of done a remake like every other editions.
I thought Bao Shang En did great as Huang Rong. Reminds me of Ariel Lin, she also did good. Everytime this series get a remake, it never failed me to see how well they casted Guo Jing, because his stupidity, naive, and non-common sense is out of this world. Thank the novel lord that he had Huang Rong.
Meng Zi Yi was Mu Nianci in 2017, but she's Mei Chao Feng here. Haha, I knew I recognized her somewhere!