Forgetable and Regretable
And I thought Journey of Legend was bad, Sword and Beloved is even worse. It’s like the first time I had sex: quick, confusing, and utterly forgettable.
In a sea of talented Chinese actors, Cheng Yi somehow feels past his prime and yet he shouldn’t be. Maybe the blame lies with the production company or direction, but the hype surrounding this drama only made its failure more glaring. For someone once known for emotional intensity, Cheng Yi now looks stuck in an endless cycle of recycled expressions and overwrought suffering. What once felt passionate now feels mechanical.
The series started with an interesting premise but quickly fell apart. Between the filler “lovey-dovey” scenes and paper-thin plot twists, it felt like a desperate attempt to stretch mediocrity into forty episodes. Cheng Yi’s character barely anchors the story, more like a bystander watching others die, much like in The Journey of Legend. Apparently, death follows him more faithfully than any love interest.
There is no sword and definitely no beloved in this series. What it should’ve been titled was “Spiders Have Feelings Too.” The pacing is lifeless, the writing uninspired, and the production forgettable.
At this point, I’m convinced Cheng Yi has fallen victim to repetition- same roles, same expressions, same emotional clichés and the result is cinematic déjà vu.
Final Verdict: 3/10. A stunning example of how hype and habit can kill artistry. I’m officially dropping this show and taking a long break from Cheng Yi dramas
In a sea of talented Chinese actors, Cheng Yi somehow feels past his prime and yet he shouldn’t be. Maybe the blame lies with the production company or direction, but the hype surrounding this drama only made its failure more glaring. For someone once known for emotional intensity, Cheng Yi now looks stuck in an endless cycle of recycled expressions and overwrought suffering. What once felt passionate now feels mechanical.
The series started with an interesting premise but quickly fell apart. Between the filler “lovey-dovey” scenes and paper-thin plot twists, it felt like a desperate attempt to stretch mediocrity into forty episodes. Cheng Yi’s character barely anchors the story, more like a bystander watching others die, much like in The Journey of Legend. Apparently, death follows him more faithfully than any love interest.
There is no sword and definitely no beloved in this series. What it should’ve been titled was “Spiders Have Feelings Too.” The pacing is lifeless, the writing uninspired, and the production forgettable.
At this point, I’m convinced Cheng Yi has fallen victim to repetition- same roles, same expressions, same emotional clichés and the result is cinematic déjà vu.
Final Verdict: 3/10. A stunning example of how hype and habit can kill artistry. I’m officially dropping this show and taking a long break from Cheng Yi dramas
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