Finally finished this and man, what a disappointment. I came to this because of ML - had been watching him in a bunch of other things and enjoyed him. While he did not disappoint - the rest of it did. Super-angsty - almost too much. Super-draggy through a lot of it - to the point that I just didn’t care anymore Have to say - I just dont care for this actress all that much - have seen her in a bunch of other things and she just does not appeal to me - but that’s just me. Soooo did not care about secondary love story - just a complete waist of time HATED that that there is no real accountability for his mom and all the truly, horrible things she did and that they even try and redeem her and try to make her the victim in the end. She caused so much physical and emotional harm to so many people - it was truly unforgivable. Weird time-jump/rushed ending Unnecessary war drama at the end And, seriously, how many times they made the ml have near-death experiences was just overkill
Just wrapped this up and here is my take Interesting concept - just executed poorly Weird pacing that is either too fast or too slow in all the wrong places Confusing in so man places and an inconstant FL character - I mean dear lord, she goes to second timeline and her whole purpose is to find the pebbles, not tell anyone who she is and stay away from Ling. I get that staying away from Ling is not going to happen - but she pretty much gives away her identity to everybody and she spends little to no time looking for the pebbles (most were found by others and given to her) - instead she spends an inordinate amount of time getting caught up in other people’s business. One minute she is the brilliant strategist and tough as nails and the next she is giving away the store because she feels bad (the whole saintly, martyr complex thing) I likes the leads - although not a lot of sizzle to them - they work, but you aren’t going to get a ton of spark here (and another FL who doesn’t know how to kiss properly) Ending feels rushed after dragging out second timeline FOREVER. Plot holes all over the place Some of the best costuming in a series I have seen (except that horrendous psychedelic, rainbow outfit they put her in for way too long)
This was just awful and I blame the director and writers for this. My overruling thought through most of it was that whoever wrote and directed this really has a very low opinion of women. This has to be one of the worst FL characters out there - she was self-absorbed, childish, playing games all the time (in the name of trying to ‘cute’ - it wasnt) - she is the extreme extrovert that just sucks all the energy out of the room. Everything centered around her (with a few exceptions). The amount of energy everyone around her had to use in order to deal with all her shenanigans was just exhausting to watch. I only stuck with it because I like the ML actor. Last two episodes felt like an after thought and the whole pregnancy thing was just dumb - like so dumb! Add in the decision to make her talk like a child most of the time - again, thinking this is what being cute is - instead it just made her seem like a real ditz. She overreacts to everything - good and bad and then makes everyone deal with her mess. No thank you! Another couple where I could not, for the life me, understand why he would be attracted to her at all. Annoying younger sister - although she ends up having the best character development - but not until late in the show BF who gave the worst advice and the girl colleague character who was suppposed to be the ‘villain’ was just bad. I would say - you only want to put up with this nonsense if you like the actor who plays the ML - otherwise, dont waist your time.
Another cdrama that had a good premise of a story, but somewhat failed in execution. Too many contrived plot lines that had super-obvious answers to them - but had to make it seem complicated in order to have ‘drama’ Another FML that is way too immature - down to the frumpy dress (I mean come on - she is supposed to be a professional reporter and she is running around like she is still in high school - and that damn poney-tail!), always jumping to the wrong conclusion without much thought, quick to her temper and just, basically a brat in the first half. In the second half - she becomes the scared girl who keeps running away and causing all sorts of emotional trauma. It become so much about taking care of her emotionally and she really didnt care how anyone else felt - so a HUGE emotional imbalance in this relationship. I honestly did not get AT ALL why this man would be attracted to this immature woman - so they didnt really work for me as a couple. And some advice to the actress - if you are going to do anymore romantic part - learn to pucker your damn lips when you kiss! This is a joint activity after all.
This drama was about 50/50 for me. Mostly stuck through this for the ML - just love him! And when his character becomes the cat demon - wowzers - - that look was stunning and he played it so well. FML was just kind of ‘meh’ for me - was just happy they didn’t make her do the baby-talk thing. She was best during the Cang Hai portion - when she was a good strong female character - the rest of the time this character was kind of annoying - doing the typical - I have to go save him/cant be parted from him clinginess thing, which inevitably leads to creating all sorts of problems cause there isn’t really much she can do. I also had a hard time with this character right out of the gate - lying, scheming and cheating and then not taking responsibility when she gets caught (literally keeps scheming to get out of the responsibility part) - so I had zero respect for the character from the get-go so it took a long time to even warm up to her. She was ok by the end - but not my favorite FML by far. I also hate the narrative in stories of running off to ‘save’ the love interest, but then don’t tell them cause you think you are protecting them - it bugs me because it takes the other persons agency away and letting them make their own choices - the idea that they wold know better for that person - just irritates me to no end Typical jealous brother who has daddy issues who then becomes crazy. I will give the actor props for playing this role well - that low-toned, monotoned voice was super-creepy
If watching two grown adults behave like children for most of a drama is something you enjoy - then go ahead - otherwise, I would not recommend this as you will be perpetually annoyed for most of it. I came to this because I had watched the ML in a few historical dramas and he was fantastic - wanted to try something modern. I also was a bit hesitant when I discovered that Esther Yu was in this (just cannot stand the baby talk speaking style they often make her do) - and, honestly, I should have dropped it - but I just have this thing for finishing dramas when I start them. While the ML does behave like a petulant pre-pubescent teen for most of the first half - he does mature and you do see better character development for him On the other hand - the FL just felt like a perpetual 8 yr old through most if it. Mostly due to this idea that directors and writers have that making women be ‘cute’ means making them talk like children, pouting and crying to get their way and just generally acting like a child. I dont put this on the actress - cause I know she can speak and act like a normal adult (watch My Journey to You) - but they went overboard on this one and it was just really off-putting to me. The second couple ends up being a bit more interesting - at least they behave like actual adults (and the SML needs to main romantic role - that boy knows how to kiss!) I, personally didnt care much for the office drama - its pretty standard
Just finished this - and, dear lord, my brain hurts with how dumb and cringy this was - what a hot mess of a script. Leads are still good together after Mysterious Love - but didnt get how this was a sequel to that beyond the leads. Could have done without the the secondary love triangle and totally felt the wrong couple ended up together - just could have done without the whole story line and ended up fast forwarding though most of it. ML definitely got better in this one, but felt FL got worse - so, a break even on that front. Sooooo did not buy she was an idol (or wanna be idol)- she came across as just too old.
This is drama that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a rom-com or political drama - so they cut it down he middle and slapped to separate dramas together to come up with 36 episodes. I enjoyed the first half - the rom-com part - although no real ‘rom’ to it - but the comedic part was great and will make you laugh out loud in many parts. Second half - didnt enjoy so much once they moved into trying to make this a more serious political drama. Could have cared less about the bandits and while i see lots of comments about how great XiGua was - i could never get past the fact that she kidnapped him, forced him to be there against his will and then he is forced to marry her - so, no, i didnt feel bad, one iota, for what he did. Also didnt feel they had any more chemistry than the main leads - she mostly felt like a little sister to me, at the most - in realty she was his captor and there is no redeeming that. So it also felt weird how upset he was when they finally separated. Second half was also weird, because FML was basically nowhere to be found I agree with many of the other commenters - she was a pretty weak FML - they set her up to be some sort of phenomenal business woman and try to play up the “she has to work twice as hard”aspect - when in reality, she was good at the making of cloth - but a horrible business woman and every success she ended up having was solely due to the ML. They turn her into the damsel in distress FML in the second half (what little she is in the second half). I ultimately, just didn’t get her purpose after the first few episodes. WOnt forgive the writers for the wrong they did to Guard Geng - he was truly one of the best. Ending would have been fine if they are really ever going to make a season 2 - but, i not, be prepared to be left hanging in the middle of an uninsured story (totally not exaggerating here - it literally ends with erasing The End and writing season 2)
Just finished it I mostly liked it - filmed well (although tries a little to hard to be edgy and clever with the use of the opening credits/scenes - that if you aren’t aware of that, you miss a part of the story) Not a big fan of Suzy - but she does well here - she really did nail the emotionally disconnected stare (almost too much) I mostly spent a lot of time really wishing this FL would go seek some psychological help - the emotional trauma from her mom, the manager guy and the industry - was real and she needed some serious help. Chemistry with ML was off the charts - well done to them The relationship itself was pretty lopsided though- in that she required ALOT of attention - never really see her helping him or caring for him - so that felt a bit off to me Didn’t really get the introduction of the childhood “enemy’ girl - added nothing to the story - pure plot ploy to try and interject some other kind of energy - as this a pretty angst filled drama Not a big fan of open endings - or just unclear endings - I like my stories to have a beginning, middle and clearer ending - i like resolution and I dont like to have to guess at it - some will argue that the beginning of ep9 is the actual ending - then make that the ending ffs! And even then - it’s still open for interpretation - but that’s just me - jst dont like these kinds of endings. All that being said - its worth a watch - but be prepared for some love-pain and you will get your heart broken (mostly for the ML) And, yes, we need to see YSJ in more dramas please - he was phenomenal is this!
This is one of those dramas that had good intentions and potential and then a really bad scriptwriter got a hold of it as well as some bad direction. I am all for a feisty lady fighting against a misogynistic culture and system (and this industry is particularly bad) - and I enjoy seeing women with confidence and a bit of arrogance - but the writers/directors failed in this by making her come across with just a bad attitude - so you start to not have empathy for her because she is in the wrong a number of times and refuses to admit it and gets pissy about it. Once they move past that - it gets better, but it takes a while. They waaaaayyyy dragged out the leads actually getting together - you have to wait until ep 38 (albeit, you get one hell of kiss - but that it all you are going to get in this drama) I had to suspend my belief right out of the gate that at women who is no more the 5feet 4 inches tall is actually a pilot - but that was the least of my annoyances Whoever thought the weird, short hair on the bf (especially at the beginning - my god!) - just bad - it did not flatter that actress at all. Again - least of the issues with that character - she was just annoying all around beyond being a plot ploy for the FL - ff’ed through most of her scenes. So done with the trope of the childhood friend who has a crush - hasn’t seen the ML in years (like 10 in this case) and comes in thinking they have a shot - i did appreciate that they didnt make her into a obsessed, crazy women. The industry stuff got boring pretty quickly and adding in the overhyped, nationalism stuff didnt help
If you wanted a show that you could have a good drinking game with - this is a good one - i dont know how many times i had to hear about the 80,000 soldiers who died - yeah, yeah, we got after about the 20th time - its not like we were going to forget - and just because of that, you started to not care after a while. Overall - horrible script - SOOO many plot holes, waisted fillers and just generally messy. It was a good idea - just executed horribly Min leads weren’t bad - just NO chemistry. Only worthwhile characters are the great aunt and Lin Lang. I almost want to add Wen Shou - but he plays the annoying young side-kick for most of it (he gets better at the end). And General Annie could have been - but she become this guilt-ridden mop that really couldn’t do anything. Found myself so bored half-way through You will be completely frustrated with leads and their stubbornness (well, stubbornness in general was resounding theme - and not good stubbornness, but ego-driven, self-centered stubbornness)- it just becomes stupid and pointless after a while.
Lost a few brain cells watching this one - good thing the episodes were short and quick. Only worthy part was Zuo Ye - that man has got the smolder DOWN! FL needs to learn how to kiss if they are going to continue to cast her in romantic roles - SO AWKWARD! Didn’t help that her character was written so poorly either -could they have made her dumber??? (That’s rhetorical btw - cause, obviously they could have - but jeebus!)
Lordy was that stupid - good things episodes or short and quick. Ok to watch for a quick escape - but don't expect too much from it. To whoever styled the two main ladies - the 80's would like their big collars, big bows and big sleeves back - my god, what a horrible mess that was.
Just finished this up - pretty mediocre - only worth watching for Rowoon his comedic timing is spectacular! Spent a lot of time yelling at my screen because of how incredibly stupid the FL is - she just was not the brightest bulb on the tree and it got so, so annoying very quickly. I honestly had a hard time understanding what was appealing about her - she was riddled with insecurity, was kind of mean to the ML over things that she caused - but blamed him and never took responsibility for it, mousey/afraid of her shadow most of the time -shall I go on. Only redeeming thing was her previous life character - the modern her kind of sucked. Also hated how they make these grown-ass women behave like adolescent teenagers. The whole curse/spell casting thing got way too messy and chock full of plot holes. And, can we please stop with the huge height difference in the paring of romantic couples - it always looks SOOOO awkward when the ML has to bend half-way over just to hug So over the petty, rich mean girl trope - was only glad that she got real come-uppance at the end. Older workplace couple was COMPLETELY pointless and added nothing to the story Gossipy girl co-workers chasing after every good looking man in the place was just stupid The whole creepy, stalker, murderer storyline was such a distraction - its was like they couldn’t decide if they wanted to do a rom-com, a thriller or a reincarnation story - so they tried to meld them all together and failed miserably. Happy Mr. Kown came through in the end - he turned out to be a great character
Just finished this and overall, Would say its worth a watch - If for nothing else, the good chemistry and relationship with the main leads - they really did knock it out of the park on that front. Like, seriously, one of the best - they communicated openly and hostly, almost from the beginning and once they physically get together - they were so cute and intimate with each other - it was really nice to see. Where it failed for me was some bad script writing and direction. First BIG fail for me is always when they don't dress women properly - here you had a whole show that is set in the freezing desert and they put two of the main women in shorts and crop-tops - meanwhile, everyone else is in multiple layers and winter jackets - big no for me. Second - trying to portray female characters as big badass fighters - and yet they have NO muscle tone what-so-ever - I cannot believe for a second that either female protagonist could kick some serious ass. Don't get me wrong - NiNi pulls off the badass attitude perfectly - just couldn't buy the fight scenes at all. You know something is not quite right when the roosters are stealing the show! Could have dome without the Fatty Tang character - he really doesn't add much beyond being plot ploy and soooo did not enjoy who they ultimately paired him with - that did not work for me at all (for many reasons) HATED how they wrapped up the Gao Shen/Ding Liu story - so unfair to the two of them HATED that the evildoer lady didnt get a just ending While I do appreciate the ending the for the main leads and we do get a pretty good kiss after they reunite (as opposed to the usual hug or just standing staring at each other) - but it did lack a bit of passion given how long and why they had been separated
Came here after watching the ML in another drama (where many of the comments raved about this one) - and I honestly dont get the rave reviews. Don’t get me wrong - I actually like the ML in this over the more recent one I watched and the main couple had great chemistry (although they took waaaayyyyy too long to get them together) - but, overall, I did not think this was all that great - mostly because it was sooooo slow-paced and draggy - especially the first half - like, painfully draggy and slow as molasses I get what they were going for in depicting the daily life of noble families - and that was interesting to a certain point - and then it jut become boring because its the same stuff over and over again. Really could have told this same story in half the time. Did appreciate they kept the palace intrigue to a minimum and would have liked more time with the leads together - they were super-cute and well matched. And, grandma stole the show - she really was THE BEST! Don’t be messin’ with her - she was badass
Just finished this and would just say it’s ok - good premise, but falls short on execution in a lot of places. First and foremost, they spend waaayyy too much time setting up the idea of showing us how ‘smart’ the fl is in the beginning - we got it after abut the 2nd or third attempt and then it just became, yeah, yeh, we got it, she’s smart - move on. Also felt a bit bad for the actress with how much dialogue she had - man did she talk ALOT. Another cdrama with the weird obsession with a huge gap - kind of worked, but not really - you really did feel how much older than her he was - didn’t help with the decision to have him move so methodically and slow and not much facial expression. They clearly connect intellectually - but there is unequal power dynamic and not much sizzle to make it work. The premise of the childhood sweetheart for ML - first - they were never children together - he saves her once and she becomes obsessed with him - this just didn’t work AT ALL. Ending was a bit muddled and rushed
Just finished this - it was mostly, very underwhelming The good parts are Xiao Zhan - he lays this character to perfection and was a pleasure to watch I started out not liking Pan Rou and Song Chen characters - but they grew on me over time and ended on a very positive note I liked the lead female character - mostly her attitude about life and how direct she was - but she is pretty emotionless throughout the show and there is not a whole lot of chemistry between them HATED the sister character - she as just annoying and did not understand AT ALL why she becomes obsessed with getting her sister together with the professor - mostly, because they don’t have that kind of relationship - so, it didn’t fit beyond being a stupid plot ploy I did enjoy Haojun - he was super-cute-just didn’t like pairing them him with the annoying sister. Even with that - it was kind of a pointless side-story And then there is his mom - I didn’t hate her, but man did she just rub me the wrong way. She had her good supportive moments - but she was such an emotional manipulator. She has both her husband and son walking around on eggshells trying not to upset her - this is a big no-thank-you for me.
Super-angsty - almost too much. Super-draggy through a lot of it - to the point that I just didn’t care anymore
Have to say - I just dont care for this actress all that much - have seen her in a bunch of other things and she just does not appeal to me - but that’s just me.
Soooo did not care about secondary love story - just a complete waist of time
HATED that that there is no real accountability for his mom and all the truly, horrible things she did and that they even try and redeem her and try to make her the victim in the end. She caused so much physical and emotional harm to so many people - it was truly unforgivable.
Weird time-jump/rushed ending
Unnecessary war drama at the end
And, seriously, how many times they made the ml have near-death experiences was just overkill
Interesting concept - just executed poorly
Weird pacing that is either too fast or too slow in all the wrong places
Confusing in so man places and an inconstant FL character - I mean dear lord, she goes to second timeline and her whole purpose is to find the pebbles, not tell anyone who she is and stay away from Ling. I get that staying away from Ling is not going to happen - but she pretty much gives away her identity to everybody and she spends little to no time looking for the pebbles (most were found by others and given to her) - instead she spends an inordinate amount of time getting caught up in other people’s business. One minute she is the brilliant strategist and tough as nails and the next she is giving away the store because she feels bad (the whole saintly, martyr complex thing)
I likes the leads - although not a lot of sizzle to them - they work, but you aren’t going to get a ton of spark here (and another FL who doesn’t know how to kiss properly)
Ending feels rushed after dragging out second timeline FOREVER.
Plot holes all over the place
Some of the best costuming in a series I have seen (except that horrendous psychedelic, rainbow outfit they put her in for way too long)
This has to be one of the worst FL characters out there - she was self-absorbed, childish, playing games all the time (in the name of trying to ‘cute’ - it wasnt) - she is the extreme extrovert that just sucks all the energy out of the room. Everything centered around her (with a few exceptions). The amount of energy everyone around her had to use in order to deal with all her shenanigans was just exhausting to watch. I only stuck with it because I like the ML actor. Last two episodes felt like an after thought and the whole pregnancy thing was just dumb - like so dumb!
Add in the decision to make her talk like a child most of the time - again, thinking this is what being cute is - instead it just made her seem like a real ditz. She overreacts to everything - good and bad and then makes everyone deal with her mess. No thank you! Another couple where I could not, for the life me, understand why he would be attracted to her at all.
Annoying younger sister - although she ends up having the best character development - but not until late in the show
BF who gave the worst advice and the girl colleague character who was suppposed to be the ‘villain’ was just bad.
I would say - you only want to put up with this nonsense if you like the actor who plays the ML - otherwise, dont waist your time.
Another FML that is way too immature - down to the frumpy dress (I mean come on - she is supposed to be a professional reporter and she is running around like she is still in high school - and that damn poney-tail!), always jumping to the wrong conclusion without much thought, quick to her temper and just, basically a brat in the first half. In the second half - she becomes the scared girl who keeps running away and causing all sorts of emotional trauma. It become so much about taking care of her emotionally and she really didnt care how anyone else felt - so a HUGE emotional imbalance in this relationship. I honestly did not get AT ALL why this man would be attracted to this immature woman - so they didnt really work for me as a couple. And some advice to the actress - if you are going to do anymore romantic part - learn to pucker your damn lips when you kiss! This is a joint activity after all.
FML was just kind of ‘meh’ for me - was just happy they didn’t make her do the baby-talk thing. She was best during the Cang Hai portion - when she was a good strong female character - the rest of the time this character was kind of annoying - doing the typical - I have to go save him/cant be parted from him clinginess thing, which inevitably leads to creating all sorts of problems cause there isn’t really much she can do. I also had a hard time with this character right out of the gate - lying, scheming and cheating and then not taking responsibility when she gets caught (literally keeps scheming to get out of the responsibility part) - so I had zero respect for the character from the get-go so it took a long time to even warm up to her. She was ok by the end - but not my favorite FML by far.
I also hate the narrative in stories of running off to ‘save’ the love interest, but then don’t tell them cause you think you are protecting them - it bugs me because it takes the other persons agency away and letting them make their own choices - the idea that they wold know better for that person - just irritates me to no end
Typical jealous brother who has daddy issues who then becomes crazy. I will give the actor props for playing this role well - that low-toned, monotoned voice was super-creepy
I came to this because I had watched the ML in a few historical dramas and he was fantastic - wanted to try something modern. I also was a bit hesitant when I discovered that Esther Yu was in this (just cannot stand the baby talk speaking style they often make her do) - and, honestly, I should have dropped it - but I just have this thing for finishing dramas when I start them.
While the ML does behave like a petulant pre-pubescent teen for most of the first half - he does mature and you do see better character development for him
On the other hand - the FL just felt like a perpetual 8 yr old through most if it. Mostly due to this idea that directors and writers have that making women be ‘cute’ means making them talk like children, pouting and crying to get their way and just generally acting like a child. I dont put this on the actress - cause I know she can speak and act like a normal adult (watch My Journey to You) - but they went overboard on this one and it was just really off-putting to me.
The second couple ends up being a bit more interesting - at least they behave like actual adults (and the SML needs to main romantic role - that boy knows how to kiss!)
I, personally didnt care much for the office drama - its pretty standard
Leads are still good together after Mysterious Love - but didnt get how this was a sequel to that beyond the leads.
Could have done without the the secondary love triangle and totally felt the wrong couple ended up together - just could have done without the whole story line and ended up fast forwarding though most of it.
ML definitely got better in this one, but felt FL got worse - so, a break even on that front.
Sooooo did not buy she was an idol (or wanna be idol)- she came across as just too old.
I enjoyed the first half - the rom-com part - although no real ‘rom’ to it - but the comedic part was great and will make you laugh out loud in many parts.
Second half - didnt enjoy so much once they moved into trying to make this a more serious political drama. Could have cared less about the bandits and while i see lots of comments about how great XiGua was - i could never get past the fact that she kidnapped him, forced him to be there against his will and then he is forced to marry her - so, no, i didnt feel bad, one iota, for what he did.
Also didnt feel they had any more chemistry than the main leads - she mostly felt like a little sister to me, at the most - in realty she was his captor and there is no redeeming that. So it also felt weird how upset he was when they finally separated.
Second half was also weird, because FML was basically nowhere to be found
I agree with many of the other commenters - she was a pretty weak FML - they set her up to be some sort of phenomenal business woman and try to play up the “she has to work twice as hard”aspect - when in reality, she was good at the making of cloth - but a horrible business woman and every success she ended up having was solely due to the ML. They turn her into the damsel in distress FML in the second half (what little she is in the second half). I ultimately, just didn’t get her purpose after the first few episodes.
WOnt forgive the writers for the wrong they did to Guard Geng - he was truly one of the best.
Ending would have been fine if they are really ever going to make a season 2 - but, i not, be prepared to be left hanging in the middle of an uninsured story (totally not exaggerating here - it literally ends with erasing The End and writing season 2)
Not a big fan of Suzy - but she does well here - she really did nail the emotionally disconnected stare (almost too much)
I mostly spent a lot of time really wishing this FL would go seek some psychological help - the emotional trauma from her mom, the manager guy and the industry - was real and she needed some serious help.
Chemistry with ML was off the charts - well done to them
The relationship itself was pretty lopsided though- in that she required ALOT of attention - never really see her helping him or caring for him - so that felt a bit off to me
Didn’t really get the introduction of the childhood “enemy’ girl - added nothing to the story - pure plot ploy to try and interject some other kind of energy - as this a pretty angst filled drama
Not a big fan of open endings - or just unclear endings - I like my stories to have a beginning, middle and clearer ending - i like resolution and I dont like to have to guess at it - some will argue that the beginning of ep9 is the actual ending - then make that the ending ffs! And even then - it’s still open for interpretation - but that’s just me - jst dont like these kinds of endings.
All that being said - its worth a watch - but be prepared for some love-pain and you will get your heart broken (mostly for the ML)
And, yes, we need to see YSJ in more dramas please - he was phenomenal is this!
I am all for a feisty lady fighting against a misogynistic culture and system (and this industry is particularly bad) - and I enjoy seeing women with confidence and a bit of arrogance - but the writers/directors failed in this by making her come across with just a bad attitude - so you start to not have empathy for her because she is in the wrong a number of times and refuses to admit it and gets pissy about it. Once they move past that - it gets better, but it takes a while.
They waaaaayyyy dragged out the leads actually getting together - you have to wait until ep 38 (albeit, you get one hell of kiss - but that it all you are going to get in this drama)
I had to suspend my belief right out of the gate that at women who is no more the 5feet 4 inches tall is actually a pilot - but that was the least of my annoyances
Whoever thought the weird, short hair on the bf (especially at the beginning - my god!) - just bad - it did not flatter that actress at all. Again - least of the issues with that character - she was just annoying all around beyond being a plot ploy for the FL - ff’ed through most of her scenes.
So done with the trope of the childhood friend who has a crush - hasn’t seen the ML in years (like 10 in this case) and comes in thinking they have a shot - i did appreciate that they didnt make her into a obsessed, crazy women.
The industry stuff got boring pretty quickly and adding in the overhyped, nationalism stuff didnt help
Overall - horrible script - SOOO many plot holes, waisted fillers and just generally messy. It was a good idea - just executed horribly
Min leads weren’t bad - just NO chemistry.
Only worthwhile characters are the great aunt and Lin Lang. I almost want to add Wen Shou - but he plays the annoying young side-kick for most of it (he gets better at the end). And General Annie could have been - but she become this guilt-ridden mop that really couldn’t do anything.
Found myself so bored half-way through
You will be completely frustrated with leads and their stubbornness (well, stubbornness in general was resounding theme - and not good stubbornness, but ego-driven, self-centered stubbornness)- it just becomes stupid and pointless after a while.
Only worthy part was Zuo Ye - that man has got the smolder DOWN!
FL needs to learn how to kiss if they are going to continue to cast her in romantic roles - SO AWKWARD! Didn’t help that her character was written so poorly either -could they have made her dumber??? (That’s rhetorical btw - cause, obviously they could have - but jeebus!)
To whoever styled the two main ladies - the 80's would like their big collars, big bows and big sleeves back - my god, what a horrible mess that was.
Spent a lot of time yelling at my screen because of how incredibly stupid the FL is - she just was not the brightest bulb on the tree and it got so, so annoying very quickly. I honestly had a hard time understanding what was appealing about her - she was riddled with insecurity, was kind of mean to the ML over things that she caused - but blamed him and never took responsibility for it, mousey/afraid of her shadow most of the time -shall I go on. Only redeeming thing was her previous life character - the modern her kind of sucked.
Also hated how they make these grown-ass women behave like adolescent teenagers.
The whole curse/spell casting thing got way too messy and chock full of plot holes.
And, can we please stop with the huge height difference in the paring of romantic couples - it always looks SOOOO awkward when the ML has to bend half-way over just to hug
So over the petty, rich mean girl trope - was only glad that she got real come-uppance at the end.
Older workplace couple was COMPLETELY pointless and added nothing to the story
Gossipy girl co-workers chasing after every good looking man in the place was just stupid
The whole creepy, stalker, murderer storyline was such a distraction - its was like they couldn’t decide if they wanted to do a rom-com, a thriller or a reincarnation story - so they tried to meld them all together and failed miserably.
Happy Mr. Kown came through in the end - he turned out to be a great character
Like, seriously, one of the best - they communicated openly and hostly, almost from the beginning and once they physically get together - they were so cute and intimate with each other - it was really nice to see.
Where it failed for me was some bad script writing and direction.
First BIG fail for me is always when they don't dress women properly - here you had a whole show that is set in the freezing desert and they put two of the main women in shorts and crop-tops - meanwhile, everyone else is in multiple layers and winter jackets - big no for me.
Second - trying to portray female characters as big badass fighters - and yet they have NO muscle tone what-so-ever - I cannot believe for a second that either female protagonist could kick some serious ass. Don't get me wrong - NiNi pulls off the badass attitude perfectly - just couldn't buy the fight scenes at all.
You know something is not quite right when the roosters are stealing the show!
Could have dome without the Fatty Tang character - he really doesn't add much beyond being plot ploy and soooo did not enjoy who they ultimately paired him with - that did not work for me at all (for many reasons)
HATED how they wrapped up the Gao Shen/Ding Liu story - so unfair to the two of them
HATED that the evildoer lady didnt get a just ending
While I do appreciate the ending the for the main leads and we do get a pretty good kiss after they reunite (as opposed to the usual hug or just standing staring at each other) - but it did lack a bit of passion given how long and why they had been separated
I get what they were going for in depicting the daily life of noble families - and that was interesting to a certain point - and then it jut become boring because its the same stuff over and over again.
Really could have told this same story in half the time.
Did appreciate they kept the palace intrigue to a minimum and would have liked more time with the leads together - they were super-cute and well matched.
And, grandma stole the show - she really was THE BEST! Don’t be messin’ with her - she was badass
First and foremost, they spend waaayyy too much time setting up the idea of showing us how ‘smart’ the fl is in the beginning - we got it after abut the 2nd or third attempt and then it just became, yeah, yeh, we got it, she’s smart - move on. Also felt a bit bad for the actress with how much dialogue she had - man did she talk ALOT.
Another cdrama with the weird obsession with a huge gap - kind of worked, but not really - you really did feel how much older than her he was - didn’t help with the decision to have him move so methodically and slow and not much facial expression. They clearly connect intellectually - but there is unequal power dynamic and not much sizzle to make it work.
The premise of the childhood sweetheart for ML - first - they were never children together - he saves her once and she becomes obsessed with him - this just didn’t work AT ALL.
Ending was a bit muddled and rushed
The good parts are Xiao Zhan - he lays this character to perfection and was a pleasure to watch
I started out not liking Pan Rou and Song Chen characters - but they grew on me over time and ended on a very positive note
I liked the lead female character - mostly her attitude about life and how direct she was - but she is pretty emotionless throughout the show and there is not a whole lot of chemistry between them
HATED the sister character - she as just annoying and did not understand AT ALL why she becomes obsessed with getting her sister together with the professor - mostly, because they don’t have that kind of relationship - so, it didn’t fit beyond being a stupid plot ploy
I did enjoy Haojun - he was super-cute-just didn’t like pairing them him with the annoying sister. Even with that - it was kind of a pointless side-story
And then there is his mom - I didn’t hate her, but man did she just rub me the wrong way. She had her good supportive moments - but she was such an emotional manipulator. She has both her husband and son walking around on eggshells trying not to upset her - this is a big no-thank-you for me.