This review may contain spoilers
It's only 12 episodes, just watch it and support a Chinese BL
OVERALL (no spoilers in this section):
Is this the best show I've ever seen? No, but it doesn't need to be any better to be worth watching.
As you watch the show, you can almost see a much more sophisticated version that's just out of reach, if only this had been 40 episodes with a bigger budget. The story itself is excellent, based on a novel, and especially appealing if you like star-crossed lovers, morally grey characters and complicated relationships (this is a wuxia as well, if that sweetens the deal). The main problem with the show is that it has to pack a long and winding story into 12 short episodes. As a result, the script and the acting do not have the luxury of being subtle. They are forced to hit you over the head with blatantly obvious statements of character motivation and feeling, and the viewer doesn't have much time to marinate on the plight of each character before the next thing happens. However, instead of feeling frustrated by the pacing, I found it almost comical. Just strap in for a quick zipline from start to finish, and treat the heavy-handed performances as a source of amusement rather than a blight on the show.
I started and finished this show because I love costume dramas and I love danmei, and I think for those reasons alone it's worth watching. Not every show we watch can be a masterpiece, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a less-than-perfect drama that had a lot of heart :)
THE GOOD:
- The story is great, and I will definitely be reading the novel. The main plot is predictable and low-stakes, but the character relationships are quite surprising
- The character growth for Xiaobao is well-done, if a little too fast. He starts the show as a naive young man, thinks he knows exactly what love is, and is convinced he can save his gūniang/gōngzī by showering him with gifts and empty promises. As the plot progresses, he learns that choosing to love someone is difficult and involves hard choices, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
- The Duke is a fascinating character. If anyone's performance is subtle, it's his. His true feelings and motivations are never spoken aloud, and the viewer is left to guess about his true feelings towards Xiaobao. His inclusion in the story is a good representation of the "proper path" for Xiaobao, which comes with respect and social status but seems to also carry a sense of dissatisfaction and longing that the Duke seems to exude
- I loved Xiaobao's costume in the early episodes, as well as the Jin mansion set
THE BAD:
- Xiaobao's reaction to the sexual assault that leaves him in a coma for 2 days (!!) is bizarrely underplayed. He wakes up and has an almost comical reaction of shaking his fist and saying "you bastard -- I'll get you back for this!". I know his character makes light of things, especially in the early episodes, but they should have treated the SA with a lot more weight & sincerity
- I barely knew who any of the characters were, besides Xiaobao and Huai'en's main circle. I never quite got a handle on the princes and their relationship. The voice-over at the beginning of Ep1 was not enough of an explanation to make everything clear.
- How many times did Huai'en really need to get stabbed in the chest? 4 times was too many
- There's plenty more that can be considered "bad", most of which is the result of too few episodes and not enough money, which I can't hold against the show. For example, I was left with some questions like "why is Huai'en staying at the Jin mansion for so long?" and "How long was Xiaobao actually poisoned for?", but I'm sure most of those questions would have been answered if the show had been longer
Is this the best show I've ever seen? No, but it doesn't need to be any better to be worth watching.
As you watch the show, you can almost see a much more sophisticated version that's just out of reach, if only this had been 40 episodes with a bigger budget. The story itself is excellent, based on a novel, and especially appealing if you like star-crossed lovers, morally grey characters and complicated relationships (this is a wuxia as well, if that sweetens the deal). The main problem with the show is that it has to pack a long and winding story into 12 short episodes. As a result, the script and the acting do not have the luxury of being subtle. They are forced to hit you over the head with blatantly obvious statements of character motivation and feeling, and the viewer doesn't have much time to marinate on the plight of each character before the next thing happens. However, instead of feeling frustrated by the pacing, I found it almost comical. Just strap in for a quick zipline from start to finish, and treat the heavy-handed performances as a source of amusement rather than a blight on the show.
I started and finished this show because I love costume dramas and I love danmei, and I think for those reasons alone it's worth watching. Not every show we watch can be a masterpiece, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a less-than-perfect drama that had a lot of heart :)
THE GOOD:
- The story is great, and I will definitely be reading the novel. The main plot is predictable and low-stakes, but the character relationships are quite surprising
- The character growth for Xiaobao is well-done, if a little too fast. He starts the show as a naive young man, thinks he knows exactly what love is, and is convinced he can save his gūniang/gōngzī by showering him with gifts and empty promises. As the plot progresses, he learns that choosing to love someone is difficult and involves hard choices, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
- The Duke is a fascinating character. If anyone's performance is subtle, it's his. His true feelings and motivations are never spoken aloud, and the viewer is left to guess about his true feelings towards Xiaobao. His inclusion in the story is a good representation of the "proper path" for Xiaobao, which comes with respect and social status but seems to also carry a sense of dissatisfaction and longing that the Duke seems to exude
- I loved Xiaobao's costume in the early episodes, as well as the Jin mansion set
THE BAD:
- Xiaobao's reaction to the sexual assault that leaves him in a coma for 2 days (!!) is bizarrely underplayed. He wakes up and has an almost comical reaction of shaking his fist and saying "you bastard -- I'll get you back for this!". I know his character makes light of things, especially in the early episodes, but they should have treated the SA with a lot more weight & sincerity
- I barely knew who any of the characters were, besides Xiaobao and Huai'en's main circle. I never quite got a handle on the princes and their relationship. The voice-over at the beginning of Ep1 was not enough of an explanation to make everything clear.
- How many times did Huai'en really need to get stabbed in the chest? 4 times was too many
- There's plenty more that can be considered "bad", most of which is the result of too few episodes and not enough money, which I can't hold against the show. For example, I was left with some questions like "why is Huai'en staying at the Jin mansion for so long?" and "How long was Xiaobao actually poisoned for?", but I'm sure most of those questions would have been answered if the show had been longer
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