This review may contain spoilers
Brotherhood, loyalty, family, love, karma! Enemies to lovers done absofudginglutely RIGHT!!
Warning - Several spoilers ahead!
I started this drama without any expectations. I just came across a TikTok edit about strong FL in dramas, and Li Qin caught my attention, so I actually purchased a VIP membership on IQIYI to watch it. Boy, was that worth it!
This is such an underrated Gem! While reading about it, they say it got more popular months after it was released, which actually deserves more! I know the enemies-to-lovers trope has been a common theme in dramas, but this one definitely takes the cake!
I did have hesitations when I saw that CZ was the male lead here. Since reading the synopsis, it says ML is a so-called killer, ruthless general/first prince. I was like, how will a pretty-boy actually portray that one? Well, he honestly did a good job here. Although yes, he still is a pretty boy, but man can definitely command the screen every time he's in it! He did great even in his fight scenes, and yes, it actually makes you believe he is a ruthless killer, too! His stance, his walk, his aura scream Boss right there!
Let's talk about Li Qin as the red-clad female general Fu Yuxiao. Oh boy! or rather, oh girl! I have been watching Cdramas for a while now, and I can tell you this is definitely how you make a strong FL. Fu Yuxiao just hits ALL the check boxes right there. She is strong, capable, smart, and knows how to speak her mind. She even confessed first, and I was like, yes girl! Some say she looks "old" for this role, which I definitely disagree with, because I can't imagine any other actress who could be Fu Yuxiao. The character needs a mature, strong woman, and Li Qin is perfect for this one. I can go on and on about Fu Yuxiao, and I really want to thank the writer and director for creating this rare FL.
The chemistry! Another thing I loved about this drama is how both FL and ML respect each other. He lets her do her thing and just sends someone to watch her from afar, but not to the point where he always feels the need to protect her. Vice Versa, where she also lets him do his thing without interfering. But when they are together, especially during fight scenes, it is an amazing watch indeed! I love how she is always shown behind him, protecting him. I love her stance when holding that bow and arrow, ready to shoot at anyone who wants to hurt her man! How she is always behind him, protecting him. You are just rooting for this couple even before they realize their feelings for each other. How they went from trying to kill each other to being each other's most important person.
The brotherhood and loyalty! Even the side characters here are done right. How ML's right-hand men are perfectly loyal to him. Goosebumps during that scene in the final eps where Feng Battalion announced their support to him. How his men are willing to give their lives for their prince, and how the prince is also more than willing to give his life for his men! He always says he was displaced since he was a child, and his time in the Feng Battalion really made him realize what it means to have a family. Can I also say how well they wrote the siblings trope! Especially with the stepbrother. In other dramas, siblings fight each other to the death, betraying each other for the throne. But since this is our drama done right, I love how love and trust prevailed. I was initially scared that ChengYang might stray to the wrong path, but I'm glad they stuck to him being an amazing brother at the end. Even the three heroes of Jinxiu. I did get sad when Ning Fei and Yu Xiao had to k*ll Wei Ran in the end. He accepted his fate, knowing his loyalty to the prince was greater than his friendship.
The Villains! Oh boy. Our poor ML, who never gets a break. As soon as he gets his revenge, another problem arises and forces him to fight again. For this show, though, I understand some of the villain's point of view on why they had to do what they did. Except for Yao and Xia Jing Shi, who are just rotten people through and through. LOL. That final fight scene between Sui Ge and Jing Shi was definitely something! Pretty boy vs. pretty boy trying to kill each other, and I was like, Dang Yu Xiao, such a lucky girl! Every villain in this story got their karma, and it's a well-deserved ending for each of them.
Wheeew, Such a long review! I do have a lot more to say, since it's been a while since I've watched a drama this good, but for you reading this, I hope you give it a chance. Although I DID skip the scenes with Xiyang, the 2nd prince and the emperor of Jinxiu, as it's not my cup of tea. Overall, it's highly, highly recommended!!
I started this drama without any expectations. I just came across a TikTok edit about strong FL in dramas, and Li Qin caught my attention, so I actually purchased a VIP membership on IQIYI to watch it. Boy, was that worth it!
This is such an underrated Gem! While reading about it, they say it got more popular months after it was released, which actually deserves more! I know the enemies-to-lovers trope has been a common theme in dramas, but this one definitely takes the cake!
I did have hesitations when I saw that CZ was the male lead here. Since reading the synopsis, it says ML is a so-called killer, ruthless general/first prince. I was like, how will a pretty-boy actually portray that one? Well, he honestly did a good job here. Although yes, he still is a pretty boy, but man can definitely command the screen every time he's in it! He did great even in his fight scenes, and yes, it actually makes you believe he is a ruthless killer, too! His stance, his walk, his aura scream Boss right there!
Let's talk about Li Qin as the red-clad female general Fu Yuxiao. Oh boy! or rather, oh girl! I have been watching Cdramas for a while now, and I can tell you this is definitely how you make a strong FL. Fu Yuxiao just hits ALL the check boxes right there. She is strong, capable, smart, and knows how to speak her mind. She even confessed first, and I was like, yes girl! Some say she looks "old" for this role, which I definitely disagree with, because I can't imagine any other actress who could be Fu Yuxiao. The character needs a mature, strong woman, and Li Qin is perfect for this one. I can go on and on about Fu Yuxiao, and I really want to thank the writer and director for creating this rare FL.
The chemistry! Another thing I loved about this drama is how both FL and ML respect each other. He lets her do her thing and just sends someone to watch her from afar, but not to the point where he always feels the need to protect her. Vice Versa, where she also lets him do his thing without interfering. But when they are together, especially during fight scenes, it is an amazing watch indeed! I love how she is always shown behind him, protecting him. I love her stance when holding that bow and arrow, ready to shoot at anyone who wants to hurt her man! How she is always behind him, protecting him. You are just rooting for this couple even before they realize their feelings for each other. How they went from trying to kill each other to being each other's most important person.
The brotherhood and loyalty! Even the side characters here are done right. How ML's right-hand men are perfectly loyal to him. Goosebumps during that scene in the final eps where Feng Battalion announced their support to him. How his men are willing to give their lives for their prince, and how the prince is also more than willing to give his life for his men! He always says he was displaced since he was a child, and his time in the Feng Battalion really made him realize what it means to have a family. Can I also say how well they wrote the siblings trope! Especially with the stepbrother. In other dramas, siblings fight each other to the death, betraying each other for the throne. But since this is our drama done right, I love how love and trust prevailed. I was initially scared that ChengYang might stray to the wrong path, but I'm glad they stuck to him being an amazing brother at the end. Even the three heroes of Jinxiu. I did get sad when Ning Fei and Yu Xiao had to k*ll Wei Ran in the end. He accepted his fate, knowing his loyalty to the prince was greater than his friendship.
The Villains! Oh boy. Our poor ML, who never gets a break. As soon as he gets his revenge, another problem arises and forces him to fight again. For this show, though, I understand some of the villain's point of view on why they had to do what they did. Except for Yao and Xia Jing Shi, who are just rotten people through and through. LOL. That final fight scene between Sui Ge and Jing Shi was definitely something! Pretty boy vs. pretty boy trying to kill each other, and I was like, Dang Yu Xiao, such a lucky girl! Every villain in this story got their karma, and it's a well-deserved ending for each of them.
Wheeew, Such a long review! I do have a lot more to say, since it's been a while since I've watched a drama this good, but for you reading this, I hope you give it a chance. Although I DID skip the scenes with Xiyang, the 2nd prince and the emperor of Jinxiu, as it's not my cup of tea. Overall, it's highly, highly recommended!!
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