got half-way through, then had to stop until drama finished (I. can't do the watch an episode here or there) - anyone else annoyed with FL? she just reminds me of the angsty teenager in the house who thinks they are an adult already. Getting a bit tired of this trope with FL characters in so many cdramas - if they are supposed to be adults (cause everyone will say 18 yrs old where actually considered adults, historically) - then have them act like an adult - but they chronologically age them as teenagers and then make them act like teenagers (and its clear all writers think female teenagers are just brats) - but, in reality, these are adult characters - so just make them act that way - I mean, I will finish this because the story is kind of interesting - just getting sick of this narrative in so many cdramas.
Just started this and will watch - purely for LYX - but, my god, how stupid it is so far - you seriously gonna send a teenage girl, who has never been out in the world, to negotiate what is probably the biggest negotiation in the sect world - what a ridiculous set up. Can these writers please stop putting teenagers in adult roles (and I don't mean the actors, but the characters) And, yes, I get this is 'historically accurate' - teenagers where considered adults back in the day - but an 18yrd old back then is not an 18yrd old today and it just does not translate to modern story telling - you have a adult actors playing teenagers (and acting like teenagers), trying to be adults - instead. -if they are supposed to be adults- then just act like adults instead of impetuous, childish teenagers - make up your mind already!
Update: about half-way through now and this FL character is probably the worst sect leader ever! Besides having some good martial arts skills and being the love interest of the ML - I haven't seen much use for her at this point. And to top it off - she is kind of dumb. She asks ALOT if she is useless and I find myself yelling at the screen - yes, yes you are!
Final update: Just I finished it and my overall thought was whoever wrote this must really hate women - like, seriously, every female character except Hong Xiu are all just sad and kind of pathetic. The FL has got to be one of the worst FL’s out there - supposed to be this badass sect leader who just constantly has to be rescued, fails to trust and believe the two main men in her life who she supposedly loves, spends most of the drama with a furrowed brow and too much crying - she was an inconsistent character that never really develops and you just want to slap her by the end (I completely lost it after her treatment of Mu Yuan). Then there is sister who kills herself and unborn child cause she just cant deal with her crazy husband - only to make make things worse instead of helping/protecting her brother - she really was a completely useless character. Then there is Feng Zi - the stupid, childish girl who cant let go of her obsession with ML and is completely manipulated by her Master - not a single brain cell in her head. Then there is Zhu Sha - dear lord - she spends the entire drama either crying or pouting and they make her sect leader at the end - UGH!!!
Besides the issue with all the female characters - this is just poorly written, nothing really new or clever about - pretty standard stuff. I would say - you only watch this because you are a LYX fan
almost too short - not enough character development of main cast that I couldn't get invested in them, tons of plot holes and as much as I LOVE Kim Woo Bin and was looking forward to this - he was kind of stiff in this. And, whoever keeps thinking mullets are a good hairstyle - please stop. The, absolute horrible mullet on Sa Wol was just a bad, bad styling choice.
Came here for Woo Do Hwan - and he did not disappoint - as usual, a joy to watch. Other good performances are the Ji Soon, Dong Chi and Lady Hong characters - well done! Did not care for the FL - neither the character or the actress - she was pretty flat and kind of stiff and I so thought we had moved beyond the dead fish kissing at this point - but, apparently not - so this didn’t make their pairing very exciting (was even a bit cringey with that first kiss)
Came to this for LYX after TTEOM - what a disappointment Bad writing, bad editing, main leads have ZERO chemistry. Didn’t really care for either character Overplayed the rescue scenes and they got repetitive and the horrible, overly dramatic music didn’t help - just pure propaganda Ding Ding character was just obnoxious and kind of brat through most of it Yuan Yan character was just so childish and kind of dumb and HATED the baby voice they gave her Rescue team members where ok Was really distracted by how thin LYX was in this - like, emaciated thin - could literally see his spine on his neck - nothing but skin and bones - and I get he is naturally thin and a ballet dancer - but this well beyond that - didn’t look healthy at all. And because of this - could not buy into the idea AT ALL that he could rescue people.
This drama is just ok and if you like LYX - give it a go - he doesn't disappoint. Storyline is ok - although nothing brilliant. FL is stiff (like the girl seriously needs to learn to loosen up). Oscar was great and I wish they had done more with him. Chu Chu was s good character until they turned her into the jealous girl at the end (thank god it for only a couple of episodes - but still dumb) I appreciated that they didn't give the FL a baby voice, dressed her like a normal, adult person (mostly - someone was a little too obsessed with clunky boots), and they didnt make her clumsy - no tripping scenes - so thank you for that! On the other hand - wasn't sure what going on with her hair - like it felt like a wig, those damn white boots (just awful) and his kinked hair (not good) Wirth a watch as along you don't expect much (especially chemistry between leads)
Overall - one of THE BETTER Wuxia dramas out there. ML really does carries this entire drama and he was A-mazing. Just a truly beautiful performance on his part - I mean he was just stunning in this. I was conflicted on the FL character - I like the actress, but this characters was really hit or miss for me. I think it really had to do with the fact that she basically lies about everything through the whole drama - so it was hard to know whether she was actually being sincere or not - that being said - this could also have just been a result of bad editing I couldn’t give this a full 10 because of the dragginess through much of it and the overly complicated story that was hard to follow at times. I only pushed through those parts because of the ML and I was curious as to how they were going to wrap it up. Can’t say I was particularly satisfied with the ending - usual cdrama fail that I had to come to the comments to understand the ending - which is a failure on the editing/writing team. I also could not go for the two drugging of the two males and then having sex with them scenes - not cool - we wouldn’t like it if roles were reversed. So not sure why it’s considered ok here.
Pretty good drama if you like stories about life and death and grieving. Thought all the actors did a great job. The romance part didn’t quite work - FL felt very stiff to me and not a lot of depth in this aspect. Rest of it was pretty good
I came to this because of ML actor, but the FL character was just soooo annoying that I couldn't take it after 8 episodes. And whoever was the stylist for the character should never again be allowed to style a female character - it was one of the worst I have seen in a drama. We get it, she was an athlete, that doesn't mean that the only thing she can wear is tracksuits and and sweatshirts - especially in a workplace setting. And another tomboyish girl with a bad haircut - that horrible top-not - ugh! the whole thing was a mess and I just couldn't take her seriously in any capacity . Add in that she supposed to be an athlete - yes has no muscle definition of any kind - so I could believe she was one from the get-go Not sure who thought this was a good idea - but poorly, poorly executed.
Season 3 was slightly better than season 2 - but still messy and draggy Standout characters were You Hao and Liu Juan/Bai Shui - throughout all 3 seasons Main couple had great chemistry and it was nice to see lots of intimacy with each other (and actual real kisses instead of those awful lips just touching, but no movement kisses) - that they both couldn't keep there hands of each other was cute And while the story was pretty much the same as 1&2 and I appreciated the effort at gender role reversal - it only worked on the surface as it was a portrayal of a matriarchal society as perceived by a patriarchal society and model - so it missed the mark on a lot of it - but I get point they were trying to make On the real downside - ended up being the FL - she was kind of annoying in this season - she really ends up being kind of shallow, not very bright and man is she petty - I found her exhausting. In the end, through 3 seasons, the schtick for her is this modern girl who is obsessed with money (while not really wanting to work for it) and just wants to play with her man - so she becomes kind of boring and I was so sick of her bickering by the end I was skipping through a lot of it.
not as good as season 1 - mostly because it was just a rehash of season 1 - so nothing new about it. Would have been better if they had made the ML share the same body like they did with FL in season 1 - so the two physical people existing did work for me. I also found they dumbed down the FL and she was way more annoying in this season - she never really develops and they overplayed her obsession with money (right to the very end - it was dumb). Addition of a 4 brother was pointless and the whole orb thing was mostly not a factor in this season. Didn't look, but wondering if completely different writers/producers for this season - cause it completely missed the mark
Overall, this is an ok watch - typical palace intrigue and the body-sharing aspect was a nice twist. Good chemistry between leads. I bit sloppy in lots of parts - but if you can just go with it - it's worth at least one watch.
kudos to all who made this - well done! My only real negative was I thought the ML was way too skinny and pale - seriously - the chicken legs and ghost white skin - like, dude, get outside in the sun a bit. Other than that - it was super-fun and main couple was great - you can tell everyone had a blast filming this. Also don't usually get SML syndrome - but I kind of did on this one - while still ok that main couple stayed together.
A poorly written and executed drama and I would say that THE ONLY reason you sit through 40 episodes is for the ML - you can pretty much put up with anything for that long to watch this beautiful man. I don't know what the obsession in c-drama land is with the huge age-gap, but its soooo doesn't work most of the time - cause its not about the physical age as it is about the maturity gap - and this one DID NOT WORK. The biggest reason being the FL - they make them too childish in both behavior and they way they style them. This one is no exception - that horrible pony-tail and baggy jeans that made her seem like a high-schooler, and the bratty, childish behavior - just made the character annoying for most of the drama and she never really feels like she matures (mostly, again because they never change her out of the pony-tail and baggy jeans look). I always find it interesting that they do this to the FL when all the other women around her look at act like adults - yet the FL is alway frumpy and childish So - whoever is writing these characters - needs to take a better look at portraying young, adult women
Just finished this up and would have to say, it was just ok. Pretty standard historical palace drama - same-old, same-old evil characters and players - nothing new or exciting as far as a story goes. Not sure why they made this 20 episodes - really could have (and should have) done this in the standard 16 - cause it really started to drag starting around episode 7/8 pretty much to the end. The boys really do carry the show - PHS, YJS, LTS, and HWS - the four of them are really the only thing that are this worth watching. Having the tiny females trying to pass pass off as men is getting old and tired - neither of the female characters were even close to believable (ok, the SFL was a bit more, but the FL was not even close). Can we just stop doing this. I struggled with this character for other reasons as well - she was just inconsistent. They start out of the gate with her being this amazing fighter and badass and then almost immediately abandon that. She is supposed to be this brilliant investigator and someone with amazing deductive skills, but misses some of the biggest clues, jumps to wrong conclusions and makes super rash decisions - it just doesn’t fit. She spends way too much time crying and they left her in the eunuch role for way too long. I think the two biggest flaws with the drama are the pace - it was just too slow and there really isn’t that much chemistry between the two leads.
Overall, this is pretty good. Loved the ML - just watched him in GLory and almost didn’t recognize him. FL was just ok for me - they overplayed the ‘crazy’ and she became a pretty one-note character. I was also disturbed by how much she was physically violent with the ML. The style of filming was fantastic and really made the drama.
Overall - I would say this ok to petty good It was nice to see Leo Wu in a a modern drama and he definitely pulled it off - you can totally see him growing as an actor and I am looking forward to seeing him more things - especially romantic dramas. FL didnt really impress that much and the character was pretty one dimensional While I found them to be cute together - not a whole lot of sizzle to them - so the romance part was just kind of 'meh' Some of the better characters for me were his dad and their interactions - especially the scenes at the wig store, Chen Ke - she just had this wonderful calm steeliness to her, especially once she decided to do something, Leo Nina - the BF - one of the best BF character out there - I loved, loved loved that she wasn't the stupid, side-kick bf giving stupid love advice and obsessed with dating and boys
This is sooooo good and one of the better endings of a kdrama in recent years - kudos to actors/ writers - everyone involved - I was truly surprised at how much I liked this one as makjang's tend to be a bit much for me - but this one was GOOD! My only spoiler/warning for those that are triggered - there is some pretty extreme school bullying violence - so beware
Getting a bit tired of this trope with FL characters in so many cdramas - if they are supposed to be adults (cause everyone will say 18 yrs old where actually considered adults, historically) - then have them act like an adult - but they chronologically age them as teenagers and then make them act like teenagers (and its clear all writers think female teenagers are just brats) - but, in reality, these are adult characters - so just make them act that way - I mean, I will finish this because the story is kind of interesting - just getting sick of this narrative in so many cdramas.
And, yes, I get this is 'historically accurate' - teenagers where considered adults back in the day - but an 18yrd old back then is not an 18yrd old today and it just does not translate to modern story telling - you have a adult actors playing teenagers (and acting like teenagers), trying to be adults - instead. -if they are supposed to be adults- then just act like adults instead of impetuous, childish teenagers - make up your mind already!
Update: about half-way through now and this FL character is probably the worst sect leader ever! Besides having some good martial arts skills and being the love interest of the ML - I haven't seen much use for her at this point. And to top it off - she is kind of dumb. She asks ALOT if she is useless and I find myself yelling at the screen - yes, yes you are!
Final update: Just I finished it and my overall thought was whoever wrote this must really hate women - like, seriously, every female character except Hong Xiu are all just sad and kind of pathetic. The FL has got to be one of the worst FL’s out there - supposed to be this badass sect leader who just constantly has to be rescued, fails to trust and believe the two main men in her life who she supposedly loves, spends most of the drama with a furrowed brow and too much crying - she was an inconsistent character that never really develops and you just want to slap her by the end (I completely lost it after her treatment of Mu Yuan). Then there is sister who kills herself and unborn child cause she just cant deal with her crazy husband - only to make make things worse instead of helping/protecting her brother - she really was a completely useless character. Then there is Feng Zi - the stupid, childish girl who cant let go of her obsession with ML and is completely manipulated by her Master - not a single brain cell in her head. Then there is Zhu Sha - dear lord - she spends the entire drama either crying or pouting and they make her sect leader at the end - UGH!!!
Besides the issue with all the female characters - this is just poorly written, nothing really new or clever about - pretty standard stuff. I would say - you only watch this because you are a LYX fan
And, whoever keeps thinking mullets are a good hairstyle - please stop. The, absolute horrible mullet on Sa Wol was just a bad, bad styling choice.
Other good performances are the Ji Soon, Dong Chi and Lady Hong characters - well done!
Did not care for the FL - neither the character or the actress - she was pretty flat and kind of stiff and I so thought we had moved beyond the dead fish kissing at this point - but, apparently not - so this didn’t make their pairing very exciting (was even a bit cringey with that first kiss)
Bad writing, bad editing, main leads have ZERO chemistry. Didn’t really care for either character
Overplayed the rescue scenes and they got repetitive and the horrible, overly dramatic music didn’t help - just pure propaganda
Ding Ding character was just obnoxious and kind of brat through most of it
Yuan Yan character was just so childish and kind of dumb and HATED the baby voice they gave her
Rescue team members where ok
Was really distracted by how thin LYX was in this - like, emaciated thin - could literally see his spine on his neck - nothing but skin and bones - and I get he is naturally thin and a ballet dancer - but this well beyond that - didn’t look healthy at all. And because of this - could not buy into the idea AT ALL that he could rescue people.
I appreciated that they didn't give the FL a baby voice, dressed her like a normal, adult person (mostly - someone was a little too obsessed with clunky boots), and they didnt make her clumsy - no tripping scenes - so thank you for that!
On the other hand - wasn't sure what going on with her hair - like it felt like a wig, those damn white boots (just awful) and his kinked hair (not good)
Wirth a watch as along you don't expect much (especially chemistry between leads)
I was conflicted on the FL character - I like the actress, but this characters was really hit or miss for me. I think it really had to do with the fact that she basically lies about everything through the whole drama - so it was hard to know whether she was actually being sincere or not - that being said - this could also have just been a result of bad editing
I couldn’t give this a full 10 because of the dragginess through much of it and the overly complicated story that was hard to follow at times. I only pushed through those parts because of the ML and I was curious as to how they were going to wrap it up.
Can’t say I was particularly satisfied with the ending - usual cdrama fail that I had to come to the comments to understand the ending - which is a failure on the editing/writing team.
I also could not go for the two drugging of the two males and then having sex with them scenes - not cool - we wouldn’t like it if roles were reversed. So not sure why it’s considered ok here.
We get it, she was an athlete, that doesn't mean that the only thing she can wear is tracksuits and and sweatshirts - especially in a workplace setting. And another tomboyish girl with a bad haircut - that horrible top-not - ugh! the whole thing was a mess and I just couldn't take her seriously in any capacity . Add in that she supposed to be an athlete - yes has no muscle definition of any kind - so I could believe she was one from the get-go
Not sure who thought this was a good idea - but poorly, poorly executed.
Standout characters were You Hao and Liu Juan/Bai Shui - throughout all 3 seasons
Main couple had great chemistry and it was nice to see lots of intimacy with each other (and actual real kisses instead of those awful lips just touching, but no movement kisses) - that they both couldn't keep there hands of each other was cute
And while the story was pretty much the same as 1&2 and I appreciated the effort at gender role reversal - it only worked on the surface as it was a portrayal of a matriarchal society as perceived by a patriarchal society and model - so it missed the mark on a lot of it - but I get point they were trying to make
On the real downside - ended up being the FL - she was kind of annoying in this season - she really ends up being kind of shallow, not very bright and man is she petty - I found her exhausting. In the end, through 3 seasons, the schtick for her is this modern girl who is obsessed with money (while not really wanting to work for it) and just wants to play with her man - so she becomes kind of boring and I was so sick of her bickering by the end I was skipping through a lot of it.
My only real negative was I thought the ML was way too skinny and pale - seriously - the chicken legs and ghost white skin - like, dude, get outside in the sun a bit. Other than that - it was super-fun and main couple was great - you can tell everyone had a blast filming this.
Also don't usually get SML syndrome - but I kind of did on this one - while still ok that main couple stayed together.
I don't know what the obsession in c-drama land is with the huge age-gap, but its soooo doesn't work most of the time - cause its not about the physical age as it is about the maturity gap - and this one DID NOT WORK.
The biggest reason being the FL - they make them too childish in both behavior and they way they style them. This one is no exception - that horrible pony-tail and baggy jeans that made her seem like a high-schooler, and the bratty, childish behavior - just made the character annoying for most of the drama and she never really feels like she matures (mostly, again because they never change her out of the pony-tail and baggy jeans look). I always find it interesting that they do this to the FL when all the other women around her look at act like adults - yet the FL is alway frumpy and childish
So - whoever is writing these characters - needs to take a better look at portraying young, adult women
The boys really do carry the show - PHS, YJS, LTS, and HWS - the four of them are really the only thing that are this worth watching.
Having the tiny females trying to pass pass off as men is getting old and tired - neither of the female characters were even close to believable (ok, the SFL was a bit more, but the FL was not even close). Can we just stop doing this. I struggled with this character for other reasons as well - she was just inconsistent. They start out of the gate with her being this amazing fighter and badass and then almost immediately abandon that. She is supposed to be this brilliant investigator and someone with amazing deductive skills, but misses some of the biggest clues, jumps to wrong conclusions and makes super rash decisions - it just doesn’t fit. She spends way too much time crying and they left her in the eunuch role for way too long.
I think the two biggest flaws with the drama are the pace - it was just too slow and there really isn’t that much chemistry between the two leads.
It was nice to see Leo Wu in a a modern drama and he definitely pulled it off - you can totally see him growing as an actor and I am looking forward to seeing him more things - especially romantic dramas.
FL didnt really impress that much and the character was pretty one dimensional
While I found them to be cute together - not a whole lot of sizzle to them - so the romance part was just kind of 'meh'
Some of the better characters for me were his dad and their interactions - especially the scenes at the wig store, Chen Ke - she just had this wonderful calm steeliness to her, especially once she decided to do something, Leo Nina - the BF - one of the best BF character out there - I loved, loved loved that she wasn't the stupid, side-kick bf giving stupid love advice and obsessed with dating and boys