Only issue with this drama is the side characters (usually an issue in donghuas as they're mainly MC-focused).
Every time Han Li interacts with a character, it feels as if his last interaction with that same character occurred 10 eps ago. He interacts with Nangong Wan 2-3 times the entire drama. It makes it hard to care about any other character besides the MC in this drama.
On a different note, Physician Mo was a great character.
I want to watch more of tian xi wei dramas.. Is this good? The rating is pretty good.. 8.5 for a teenage drama.
Also a big fan of Tian Xi Wei! She's pretty amazing in this one as well. Completely stole the show for me. Huang Cheng Zi is probably my favorite character she's played so far.
As for the story, its an easy watch. Its lighthearted and the comedy is good.
Just just finished watching the last episode. I had pretty much rated it at 10 out of 10 up until the last maybe…
Same, but I wished it was longer instead. I rated this as the best drama I've ever watched until the last 6 episodes.
The political plot is just so rushed. Wei Yan didn't feel like a villain, and as we found out at the end, he's not fully evil and has a heart. Qi Min, on the other hand, his rebellion lasted maybe 20 minutes before he was defeated.
I'll be remembering this drama purely for the chemistry and cinematography. Still an amazing show though
Somewhere down the line, I stopped believing in LJL. It wasn’t a battle of wits. You see the the painstaking efforts of LJL and then at the very end of the conflict, you find RSB already solved everything.
When the conflict is being resolved, we end up getting a twist and a flashback of RSB being a step ahead of everyone. - RSB predicts BYS will end up teaming with her. - She prepares her workers with fake testimonies during torture to target Lord Jiang. - She also predicts fake YBL is an impostor despite him being perfectly clean throughout the drama. - She predicts LJL’s sister is actually the mother of the girl.
There’s at least 3 more instances of this. The writing and execution just ends up being lazy and repetitive. RSB is all knowing while LJL faces continuous struggle.
In the later half of the drama, it seems like the relationship dynamic shifts to LJL chasing RSB. He literally begs her not to marry another man and they sleep together. She still proceeds with wedding and he crashes it (though she did have her own plans).
And then in the capital, he cries to her and asks her if she will stay with him forever. She dodges the question and sleeps with him again.
And finally, in the last episode, she tries to leave, and he has to stop her last minute and pours his heart out again.
It’s like while he gives everything, she gives nothing. I feel like the romance could’ve been much better if we saw RSB break out of that shell and calm demeanor even once to LJL.
What a coincidence. I just finished Ep.34 and on Ep.35 rn (haven't started) but anyways, the romance feels so…
You wrote it out perfectly!
Honestly, what triggered my comment was seeing his interactions with the Princess Consort; I feel like they had good chemistry in their few scenes together. Cant ship them knowing the princess exists tho :(
And yeah, I miss his copper gong buddies. I think moving them to Yonzhou was simply just done because Xu Qi An is focusing primarily on the bigger issue (the mysterious man and Shen Shu) and they can't help with that.
(On ep 35) This is one of my favorite dramas in a while mainly because of Xu Qi An, but from a pure romance standpoint, this is one of the worst romances. The two leads only begin their real interactions after episode 19 when he discovers her lie. Prior, he had only been following all of her commands due to a lie. Their remaining interactions is him helping her which then leads to a kiss.
But at the point of the kiss, he had not shown any interest prior. Only the FL had a crush. The romance felt extremely onesided. In fact, throughout the entire drama, he doesn’t think about her at all. A side character had to tell viewers that he constantly visited her when she was grounded. It’s just odd that for a character whose thoughts are always shown, the ML has little to no thoughts on the FL.
It's pretty similar to New Life Begins as it focuses on multiple different couples, its historical + slice of life, etc. The pacing is different though.
In NLB, it shows multiple couples at once. In Perfect Match, it focuses on each couple at a time, and then the couple becomes side characters afterwards. NLB is also more slice of life. In PM, it feels like a new arc occurs every 2-3 episodes.
By far the best chemistry in the Wuxia dramas I've watched. Ming Yi also might be one of my favorite FLs, in large part, due to LYX's amazing acting.
Despite all the deception in this show, I appreciate that there's little to few battle of wits or witty banter between the two characters (the drama doesn't really call for it). Instead, we just get full on lying and deception which is more fun.
I’m on ep 31 and it feels as if there’s little to no tension despite all thats going on. I’m finding it really hard to care for these characters at all.
The only two interesting characters at the moment are the Jinxiu King and Princess Xiyang. Their interactions feel so unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the others: XJS feels like a very incomplete character. He’s mysterious and hides his emotions but all of his actions have felt extremely predictable? I dont care for his Jinxiu rebellion at all.
Murong Yao couldve made for a great antagonist. He’s done so much for the plot but his resolve and hatred towards ML feels so superficial. I can’t even root against his father because he doesnt feel like a villain either. Is anyone taking these antagonists seriously?
Lastly, the romance has been stale for a while. The first 20 eps were great, but there comes a point in many dramas where the main interactions between the two leads is them telling each other how much they love and care for each other. How they’ll grow old and have a happy life together.
This new amnesia plot doesn’t even create angst. It feels like only a matter of time before Suige gets his memories back.
Honestly, I was really captivated by Wu Zhen, but the story has clear execution flaws.
In the last 8 episodes, what even happened? Everything related to the main plotline seemed to resolve very quickly. On the other hand, Mei Si and the Serpent Lord got so much screentime. The only interactions between the main leads are her rejecting him, her having amnesia, and the last fighting scene. It feels like the writers took a shortcut. How do you revive a relationship where the ML chooses to go directly against the FL (on ep 30)? You just make him sacrifice his life to undo his decision. This trope of sacrifice to show sincerity is extremely overused. But most importantly, I feel like we’re robbed of interactions between ML and FL? The only scenes they have together later on are aftercredits scenes.
CP is alert, but he was never a character with excellent skills, he loves FL, what's the point of always acting,…
Right, I'm of the opinion that novels are usually better written than their drama counterpart. These dramas likely change bits of the story to make it more appealing for viewers. Or adapting entirely is too difficult.
Either way, I guess I Should clarify that I am only speaking in context of the drama and the drama version of the CP. The story scenario overall is not similar in the dramas I mentioned but the SML (second. male lead) trope is. In wonderland of love, once the stepbrother realized the FL was in love with ML,he drops his role as a general in a war, and plans an attack on the ML. This is very similar to the CP in Shadow Love. In WoL, the stepbrother is immediately thrown out of the story when he fails, because he did something irredeemable. The character's only purpose is to drive the plot. Only reason im disappointed this time is because the CPs character showed promise in the drama
The CP's character is all over the place. He was introduced as perceptive and scheming when he first arrived in Lucheng, but then his big bro arrived and he sht his pants.
In the last two episodes, it feels like he's been reduced down to the SML trope: a logical and kind male character that loses reasoning once he sees he cant win the FL over. I legit just witnessed this same trope of Legend of the Female General with Chu Zhao, and also the stepbrother in Wonderland of Love. Since he is reduced to a trope, you can't feel any connection he may have with the FL. No angst from failed love, separation for 3 years, etc.
More importantly, the latest development in ep 24 was based on the misunderstanding that the Li Shuang abandoned CP. CP has no one, so he chooses to go with an extreme. It's such a lazy way to stir up the plot.
Im still enjoying the show, but I cant stand how they make no effort on writing am interesting Crown Prince
This drama has started to lose me a bit a little bit after episode 20.
The ML and FL are refreshing characters, but I'm struggling to see what the goal of the story after episode 14.I really liked the twist in the story in episode 14, but afterwards, the main characters are not revenge-driven, they just want to survive.
But truthfully, I couldn't care less about their adjustment to Youzhou. The FL donates all of their money and doesn't keep even 2% of it to live lavishly? It seems like their financial struggles are being manufactured. The story pivots to them now struggling to live as common people.
The villain also doesn't entice me. While there is a clearly an evil scheme brewing in the story by the villain, and there's constant reminders of a 'chaotic' world, nothing's happening.
I wholeheartedly agree with the top reviews EXCEPT for the part on the chemistry. This drama has better chemistry than most dramas.
The drama fell short in 3 aspects: intensity, character assassination, and straightforwardness.
Intensity: Are we convinced the FL is a general? She gets blinded and killed, but has a bubbly personality the entire time. This part of He Yan’s character is compromised in order to fit the bubbly FL + stoic ML romance trope.
Character Assassination: I dont think anyone liked the twist in the last few eps. It makes you wonder who is Chu Zhao exactly? We have a limited background on him, but he begins by killing for Xu Jingfu, scheming for him, plotting against him, exposing him, and then adopting his ways? We’ve accepted that Chu Zhao is morally gray but he shows signs of true compassion throughout. It seems hes more of a character that conveniently adapts to what the plot asks of him.
Lastly, Straightforwardness: Was there tension in this show? Our unstoppable main leads crushed it immediately. Xu Jingfu didnt get a chance to even scheme when they came back. Victory was handed to them. This is why the plot is pretty underwhelming.
I replied to someone else's post on this point. I will paste the reply below, but before that, I would like to…
The authors wrote an ethical dilemma involving two genius leads.
On one hand, we have the ML who lost thousands of his soldiers and is now expected to SAVE Young Master Cui who caused these deaths. Prior, he has a dramatic outburst and then realizes his mistake and apologizes soon after. He also saves her life.
On the FL’s pov, she lost her step brother and was momentarily accused of plotting against him. She is also being confined. After the apology, shouldn’t she understand that this was an emotional outburst from the ML? In addition, they are at war. In what world would she expect him to save the man responsible for the deaths of ML’s soldiers? Also, they completely overexaggerate her being confined. Throughout the whole drama, they constantly plot against each other but she acts like confining her is a big evil.
Actually, what breaks this phase of ignoring the ML is when the FL sees the ML’s sincerity and care for her. They begin to love each other again openly. At this point, she realizes that her brothers death is not ML’s fault and she understands his previous outburst.
Just from describing the situations, the writing is so incredibly messy. We expect the FL to have an emotional response but purely based on the sequence of events, it appears more of a tantrum than anything.
And yes, you are correct that the ML came out with everything, but the FL begins to realize the ML is capable and fit to lead. This is why it lead to my other complaint that the FL’s role in the story feels dwindled.
Just started this drama she was cool as the general but suddenly shortly lost everything 😅 will she gain her…
She is actively rising ranks and is about to reclaim her title. Shes actually achieving a ton despite not having her title back. So nah, shes not a sidekick.
This drama is falling off a cliff after the first 10 episodes. I’m on episode 20 right now and Im wondering whats the point of dragging on this story?
It feels like character assassination? From episodes 15-18, the FL ignores the ML because he distrusted her? Hundreds of his soldiers died but she expected him to not overreact? They somehow completely ruin the FL’s character within this few episodes. In fact, the drama quite literally gives up on the FL. Almost all focus is on the ML and she is there for emotional support.
Another complaint is that it seems the story is only dragging due to the side characters. We have a king (ML’s father) and two brothers that are comically incompetent and delay the ML’s goals. And the FL’s pathetic step bro that will inevitably come back to the story as a pain in the butt. I only anticipate another 20 episodes of garbage at this point. Why tf do also they keep giving screentime to the two servants???
Overall, I feel like this drama is focused on the wrong plotlines. The villain has absolutely zero depth and constant inconveniences show up to display how talented the ML is.
The appeal of the drama is the conflict between the FL and ML. There’s absolutely no tension between the two. The FL hasn’t been a factor since episode 10.
This drama is a complete waste of potential considering how good the chemistry was early.
Also I'm watching for Ju Jing Yi mainly but LWY's actions and speech feel too dramatic (also can't stand the character's voice).
Every time Han Li interacts with a character, it feels as if his last interaction with that same character occurred 10 eps ago. He interacts with Nangong Wan 2-3 times the entire drama. It makes it hard to care about any other character besides the MC in this drama.
On a different note, Physician Mo was a great character.
As for the story, its an easy watch. Its lighthearted and the comedy is good.
The political plot is just so rushed. Wei Yan didn't feel like a villain, and as we found out at the end, he's not fully evil and has a heart. Qi Min, on the other hand, his rebellion lasted maybe 20 minutes before he was defeated.
I'll be remembering this drama purely for the chemistry and cinematography. Still an amazing show though
Somewhere down the line, I stopped believing in LJL. It wasn’t a battle of wits. You see the the painstaking efforts of LJL and then at the very end of the conflict, you find RSB already solved everything.
When the conflict is being resolved, we end up getting a twist and a flashback of RSB being a step ahead of everyone.
- RSB predicts BYS will end up teaming with her.
- She prepares her workers with fake testimonies during torture to target Lord Jiang.
- She also predicts fake YBL is an impostor despite him being perfectly clean throughout the drama.
- She predicts LJL’s sister is actually the mother of the girl.
There’s at least 3 more instances of this. The writing and execution just ends up being lazy and repetitive. RSB is all knowing while LJL faces continuous struggle.
In the later half of the drama, it seems like the relationship dynamic shifts to LJL chasing RSB. He literally begs her not to marry another man and they sleep together. She still proceeds with wedding and he crashes it (though she did have her own plans).
And then in the capital, he cries to her and asks her if she will stay with him forever. She dodges the question and sleeps with him again.
And finally, in the last episode, she tries to leave, and he has to stop her last minute and pours his heart out again.
It’s like while he gives everything, she gives nothing. I feel like the romance could’ve been much better if we saw RSB break out of that shell and calm demeanor even once to LJL.
Honestly, what triggered my comment was seeing his interactions with the Princess Consort; I feel like they had good chemistry in their few scenes together. Cant ship them knowing the princess exists tho :(
And yeah, I miss his copper gong buddies. I think moving them to Yonzhou was simply just done because Xu Qi An is focusing primarily on the bigger issue (the mysterious man and Shen Shu) and they can't help with that.
But at the point of the kiss, he had not shown any interest prior. Only the FL had a crush. The romance felt extremely onesided. In fact, throughout the entire drama, he doesn’t think about her at all. A side character had to tell viewers that he constantly visited her when she was grounded. It’s just odd that for a character whose thoughts are always shown, the ML has little to no thoughts on the FL.
In NLB, it shows multiple couples at once. In Perfect Match, it focuses on each couple at a time, and then the couple becomes side characters afterwards. NLB is also more slice of life. In PM, it feels like a new arc occurs every 2-3 episodes.
Despite all the deception in this show, I appreciate that there's little to few battle of wits or witty banter between the two characters (the drama doesn't really call for it). Instead, we just get full on lying and deception which is more fun.
The only two interesting characters at the moment are the Jinxiu King and Princess Xiyang. Their interactions feel so unpredictable.
Meanwhile, the others:
XJS feels like a very incomplete character. He’s mysterious and hides his emotions but all of his actions have felt extremely predictable? I dont care for his Jinxiu rebellion at all.
Murong Yao couldve made for a great antagonist. He’s done so much for the plot but his resolve and hatred towards ML feels so superficial. I can’t even root against his father because he doesnt feel like a villain either. Is anyone taking these antagonists seriously?
Lastly, the romance has been stale for a while. The first 20 eps were great, but there comes a point in many dramas where the main interactions between the two leads is them telling each other how much they love and care for each other. How they’ll grow old and have a happy life together.
This new amnesia plot doesn’t even create angst. It feels like only a matter of time before Suige gets his memories back.
In the last 8 episodes, what even happened? Everything related to the main plotline seemed to resolve very quickly. On the other hand, Mei Si and the Serpent Lord got so much screentime. The only interactions between the main leads are her rejecting him, her having amnesia, and the last fighting scene. It feels like the writers took a shortcut. How do you revive a relationship where the ML chooses to go directly against the FL (on ep 30)? You just make him sacrifice his life to undo his decision. This trope of sacrifice to show sincerity is extremely overused. But most importantly, I feel like we’re robbed of interactions between ML and FL? The only scenes they have together later on are aftercredits scenes.
Either way, I guess I Should clarify that I am only speaking in context of the drama and the drama version of the CP. The story scenario overall is not similar in the dramas I mentioned but the SML (second. male lead) trope is. In wonderland of love, once the stepbrother realized the FL was in love with ML,he drops his role as a general in a war, and plans an attack on the ML. This is very similar to the CP in Shadow Love. In WoL, the stepbrother is immediately thrown out of the story when he fails, because he did something irredeemable. The character's only purpose is to drive the plot. Only reason im disappointed this time is because the CPs character showed promise in the drama
In the last two episodes, it feels like he's been reduced down to the SML trope: a logical and kind male character that loses reasoning once he sees he cant win the FL over. I legit just witnessed this same trope of Legend of the Female General with Chu Zhao, and also the stepbrother in Wonderland of Love. Since he is reduced to a trope, you can't feel any connection he may have with the FL. No angst from failed love, separation for 3 years, etc.
More importantly, the latest development in ep 24 was based on the misunderstanding that the Li Shuang abandoned CP. CP has no one, so he chooses to go with an extreme. It's such a lazy way to stir up the plot.
Im still enjoying the show, but I cant stand how they make no effort on writing am interesting Crown Prince
The ML and FL are refreshing characters, but I'm struggling to see what the goal of the story after episode 14.I really liked the twist in the story in episode 14, but afterwards, the main characters are not revenge-driven, they just want to survive.
But truthfully, I couldn't care less about their adjustment to Youzhou. The FL donates all of their money and doesn't keep even 2% of it to live lavishly? It seems like their financial struggles are being manufactured. The story pivots to them now struggling to live as common people.
The villain also doesn't entice me. While there is a clearly an evil scheme brewing in the story by the villain, and there's constant reminders of a 'chaotic' world, nothing's happening.
The drama fell short in 3 aspects: intensity, character assassination, and straightforwardness.
Intensity: Are we convinced the FL is a general? She gets blinded and killed, but has a bubbly personality the entire time. This part of He Yan’s character is compromised in order to fit the bubbly FL + stoic ML romance trope.
Character Assassination: I dont think anyone liked the twist in the last few eps. It makes you wonder who is Chu Zhao exactly? We have a limited background on him, but he begins by killing for Xu Jingfu, scheming for him, plotting against him, exposing him, and then adopting his ways? We’ve accepted that Chu Zhao is morally gray but he shows signs of true compassion throughout. It seems hes more of a character that conveniently adapts to what the plot asks of him.
Lastly, Straightforwardness: Was there tension in this show? Our unstoppable main leads crushed it immediately. Xu Jingfu didnt get a chance to even scheme when they came back. Victory was handed to them. This is why the plot is pretty underwhelming.
I prioritize chemistry over everything so
8.5/10!
On one hand, we have the ML who lost thousands of his soldiers and is now expected to SAVE Young Master Cui who caused these deaths. Prior, he has a dramatic outburst and then realizes his mistake and apologizes soon after. He also saves her life.
On the FL’s pov, she lost her step brother and was momentarily accused of plotting against him. She is also being confined. After the apology, shouldn’t she understand that this was an emotional outburst from the ML? In addition, they are at war. In what world would she expect him to save the man responsible for the deaths of ML’s soldiers? Also, they completely overexaggerate her being confined. Throughout the whole drama, they constantly plot against each other but she acts like confining her is a big evil.
Actually, what breaks this phase of ignoring the ML is when the FL sees the ML’s sincerity and care for her. They begin to love each other again openly. At this point, she realizes that her brothers death is not ML’s fault and she understands his previous outburst.
Just from describing the situations, the writing is so incredibly messy. We expect the FL to have an emotional response but purely based on the sequence of events, it appears more of a tantrum than anything.
And yes, you are correct that the ML came out with everything, but the FL begins to realize the ML is capable and fit to lead. This is why it lead to my other complaint that the FL’s role in the story feels dwindled.
It feels like character assassination? From episodes 15-18, the FL ignores the ML because he distrusted her? Hundreds of his soldiers died but she expected him to not overreact? They somehow completely ruin the FL’s character within this few episodes. In fact, the drama quite literally gives up on the FL. Almost all focus is on the ML and she is there for emotional support.
Another complaint is that it seems the story is only dragging due to the side characters. We have a king (ML’s father) and two brothers that are comically incompetent and delay the ML’s goals. And the FL’s pathetic step bro that will inevitably come back to the story as a pain in the butt. I only anticipate another 20 episodes of garbage at this point. Why tf do also they keep giving screentime to the two servants???
Overall, I feel like this drama is focused on the wrong plotlines. The villain has absolutely zero depth and constant inconveniences show up to display how talented the ML is.
The appeal of the drama is the conflict between the FL and ML. There’s absolutely
no tension between the two. The FL hasn’t
been a factor since episode 10.
This drama is a complete waste of potential considering how good the chemistry was early.