jisha_lo

My 40 hrs. approx. was WORTH IT (+ similar drama recommendation)

I'll skip the basic words used in a drama review and just outright tell ya'll reading this that this drama is super good AF. It's got a firm plot, well written script (it has plot twists & other stuffs which will make you think), many characters AF which were casted so fine👌, and if i may say the events are thrilling or exciting enough especially in first 20 or 30 eps. 30-40 eps are nearing end already so the scenes get heavier & battles are becoming more serious and dangerous than ever. I can assure you all though that from start to finish, burning flames has been consistent (lyk things make sense, characters are consistent to their character & nature, etc.). It delivered well allthrough out 40 episodes.

If you ask me the end, i will just leave it you but I will say this is one of my fave dramas the moment i realized it while i was still starting it. Lemme share you some of my sentiments below tho ⬇️✨

🔥 What I rlly like about burning flames is that after every battle or commotion that happens, win or lose, gou/wugeng (ML) comes back to her, baicai (FL), his home. Throughout the long exhausting journey, baicai was his sense of comfort, an escape from all the worries & pressure that he carries daily. Let's admit it, despite its annoying how baicai's lines is full of 'Agou!', she made sure gou was never alone.

She knows and understands that wugeng's mission is a very important matter that even if wugeng loves her, they can't be fully tgt before that mission is fulfilled. It must be hard for her at some point and I rlly acknowledge her character, her love, trust, & loyalty. As well as her kindness & care to the ppl around her & wugeng.

Sure there's no romance scenes (sweet cringe stuffs) but i witnessed their relationship grow & develop allthroughout 40 eps & that to me is more sweeter than any romance out there. The drama took time in showing us their ups & downs tgt that everytime they have flashbacks of their moments in the past we share the same nostalgia with them. It wasn't a very sad ending for me, it's actually a happy one but it still leaves me empty at some point. Finally their exhausting journey of one battle to another have already ended, maybe my emptiness is a sign of relief. I didn't got to see the tandem in one frame as the drama ends but realizing the 'obvious' ending makes me rlly happy.

This was a great journey in c-drama land. So many things happened in burning flames, very well written. It's been a long time since I've finished a drama, this time I'm rlly proud of finding this gem. 🔥❄️

✨ Recommendation Part !! !! !
Burning Flames is very similar to 'Alchemy of Souls' or AOS (k-drama but so many chinese concepts/learnings are exhibited) for me. AOS is also a favorite, very well-treasured drama of mine. It has same concepts of wuxia vibes, unlocked/sealed spirit energy/power, crystal powers stuff, packed with action, petrification sickness theme, etc.

The most striking similarity is the story being mainly about the growth of ML from being weak to strong in order to fulfill a prophecy. Both ML-FL relationship is not full of romance, it's always leaning more to how the relationship & feelings between them started and how it grew/developed through time & experiences.
Ofcourse in both dramas we'll get to see at some point the ML versus the FL on a one-on-one, talking about trance, spells, etc. Eitherway both FLs have hidden powers which are rlly interesting to unfold throughout the entirety of drama.
Go check out both dramas ya'll. Goodluck.✨

ps. i already know xingfei from master devil way back years ago but first time seeing ren jialun act and he nails this role! 🔥😎

ps. i scored rewatch value only 8 cause usually i dont rewatch dramas which hold so much emotion within me. in reality this deserves a 10/10 but yeah, just letting ya'll know.

-jisha

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Raised the bar for Revenge Dramas

I watched this on an impulse and didn't have any expectations but since the introduction offered a such compelling scene with the ghost zombie-like soldiers, I chose to stay and watch for more. Thankfully, it offered more flesh and the story with the ML's family was pretty done well. The death of ML's family was really done well, not that I liked it but it was compelling enough to keep on watching and anticipating to the revenge.

For the actual plot and writing, it is generally good for me. Some ppl complain on plot holes but I followed the events just well particularly on the earlier episodes when the drama was still focusing on the 1st enemy (MPJ) which was basically the foundation of the whole revenge. I literally cried for Ping Jin's death even though he was an enemy who was personally present during the family's death. I also hate him to the core and I felt for the ML when he discovered his skinned parents. But I think one good thing about Legend of Zang Hai is that especially for Ping Jin, it gives depth to an enemy's character. They have done bad things in the past and still harbor bad intentions up to the present, but they are still humans who have heart. Did he deserve to die? Yes. But as a watcher I was rlly touched during that iconic moment. That's why I rlly appreciated LOZH for presenting an almost perfect dynamics between someone who soughts revenge (Zang Hai) and someone being plotted a revenge on (3 enemies, but Ping Jin was the most worthy enemy portrayed in the drama).

Anyways, plottwists and the mystery keeps a lot of fans guessing even near the end which is a sign a lot of the watchers are rlly entertained and hooked on the drama, including me.

For the romance, it is a subplot so there are times when the ML's buddies/masters and enemies have more screen time than the FL but I don't rlly have an issue with that. Despite the limited screen time tgt, the FL and ML still had chemistry for me. This chemistry kind of lied down starting ep 31 onwards (because they were already tgt, no more angst and playing around catching feelings lmao) but eitherway it was forgivable for me as mainly I'm in it for the revenge.

There are still details or events which weren't explained or clarified quite clearly, atleast for me and that's on me to catch up and work on my comprehension LMAO, sooo for many fans those were just pretty understandable and honestly all discussions about it just shows ppl are intrigued on the plot.

Aside from Ping Jin's death, I was also emotional on Gao Ming shifu's death lyk that scene when he waved turning back from Zang Hai, that is emotional and sad. His character was one of the entertaining and interesting ones and like the ML I also trusted him.

For the music, I didn't care much and it wasn't also fascinating, atleast for me, but the OSTs suited the scenes they were played on just well which is good enough.

Overall, it's not perfect but for me who's quite very very picky in dramas, it's rlly a good revenge drama. This is officially the cdrama that made me appreciate Xiao Zhan as an actor (I rlly didn't like The Untamed despite being a Yibo fan), but thanks to LOZH I finally finished a XZ drama. I'd say he rlly suited the character and yeah he is famous but I also think he rlly committed to the character and he played Zang Hai well.

That's all! Happy cultivating cdrama fans and everyone!!! <33333

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This is how you creatively make use of the 'Bad Genius Concept'

first of all, I've watched the og thai movie back when it was still new. i remember waiting during the pandemic times for the series but then have gotten my attention into other things hence im just watching this now. im 5 years late but im so glad i decided to watch it.

i rlly like how they didn't just blatantly copy the movie and did smthng we already know or expect of. they also kept other details short (like the first cheating with eraser and shoes) so that it wouldn't feel so redundant to the watchers who're likely movie fans. as other reviews said, the characters here are more fleshed out which i also appreciate. i do like the movie actress and her demeanor plus aura which is a lot more stern and cold than the Lyn in the series, but it still worked out fine for me. there are new cheat tricks and schemes in the series which rlly felt fresh and creative ideas and the thrill is smthng not to be missed out. the bond between main characters is also great from start to end, this is smthng that we'll only see in the series version.

and alsooo can i just fangirl on the fact that Pat is played by both 9by9 members im so amazed. James did so well in the movie which made me a fan of him, and Ice here in the series also played the character well. I can actually attest that from 'In Family We Trust' to 'Bad Genius: The Series', Ice improved a lot as an actor.

continuing though, i super loved this series. it's well thought and very entertaining. fun fact i actually tried watching the english remake of Bad Genius but then not halfway yet i felt so bored and it didn't resonate with me well so i thought the thai series would've smthng better to offer me, and it rlly did give justice to the whole 'Bad Genius Concept'. They didn't just recycled plots or ideas and actually made smthng new and interesting. If you enjoyed the thai movie, you'll also love this. even if there's subtle differences especially in the characters, the series is still a good reference to dig more into the realm or environment of the characters (the school, system, government, etc.). and tbh there's not much character development we can flesh out from a 2 hour movie so watching the series is a great addition to our viewing experience as it utilized well the 12 episodes to give us more about what i call, again, as 'Bad Genius Concept'.

anyways, i generally liked this series (obviously lmao) but i do have my complains during the last cheating scheme they did. while watching i didnt actually fully expect Bank to memorize the answers coz first of all he's the only one answering, second there's too much pressure answering in the trash room with nothing even a pen or pencil. i was thinking why can't he just hide it like under his socks or shoes as the security don't seem to check the footwears. and also, it was revealed that he indeed bribed the security so why wouldn't he snitch the answered exam paper with him?

This might be a plot hole or maybe they just rlly wanted to show how Lyn is much of a better planner and risk taker than Bank. Bank's plan was very risky and dangerous and when compared to Lyn, Bank is a lot more weak mentally like he's so easily panicked and can't hold himself well especially when they're going on through their plans (the stic and the last exam they tried to rig). he also has a habit of not going along with the plan which he did numerous times and maybe that's why his plan isn't just meant to succeed. OR maybe the makers just didn't want to let the "cheaters" to win so it had to end like that (which i also agree). for a little bit of my own perception about this topic, i also dont support cheating like that even if the system itself is rigged. it may sound cliche and too much ideal and not too realistic but at the end of the day, we are our own principles and by choosing to fight against bad in our own ways, we dont become what we hate and despise of which is the opposite of what Lyn and Bank felt towards the end.

anyways, i like the redemption of everyone and also of the cliffhanger they teased us with. im fine if they just added that to give off an interesting end, but i also dont mind if they do rlly give us a season 2. but since it's been 5 years, maybe they're not doing it anymore. anyways, they did a super good job and im open for more projects with this 'Bad Genius Concept'.

-lovelots & happy watching ✨📺

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