launev

not sure what strategy strength you think she has - on ep 11 now and all the winning strategies have pretty much come from he ML and he was pretty much the reason she has won every battle so far, while saving her ass at the same time - just sayin' - she hasn't shown that she is that great of general so far (from a strategy perspective)

I am not blaming the actress - it's totally how the characters is written and direction given. Hence, why I say I dont like the character. Although, I dont really think this actress is suited for the role either. But, mostly a character problem. Just my personal opinion on it.

as stated in my original comment - not buying her as a general in the slightest. This character has been in the military, at the border, fighting wars most of her life - she should have more of an edge to her. I see no commanding presence from her - and I say that as a daughter of a military officer. This may sound weird - but her eyes are too soft. She just doesnt hold herself the way someone who would have that background would - so it doesnt work for me.

glad you think so -she just isn't doing it for me so far

I mostly liked this drama and Authur Chen is just sublime in this.
The robes, the hair (especially in Soul Manor), the voice, the way he walks - he just nailed this
Loved the homage to Harry Potter, Voldemort with this character (bare feet, snake and all!)- kudos to the writers for this.
Had a hard time getting on board with FL character - she did finally get me by the end (mostly the last 10 or so episodes) - but, up until then - just didn't like her that much. I think it's when you introduce a character and their whole life's ambition is to be a slacker - I'm immediately just not that interested. And it took way too long for her to start using her brain.
That being said - relationship between leads was phenomenal - there was just such an ease and comfortableness that was so intimate - it was so nice to see. The best part being his gentleness with her contrasted with how he treated everyone else - just beautifully done by AC.
Really would have liked to see more at the end in the modern world - that was just too quick. Mortal world arc wasn't the interesting to me.
Definitely worth the watch though - just for Arthur Chen - seriously, could have just watched that character all day long!

I just started this (on ep 4) - cause I LOVE Ryan Cheng - and he is already killin' it.
But the FL character is just ruining it for me so far. Bad casting, bad direction - there is no way, shape or form that this woman has grown up an orphan, in the military, on the boarder, fighting in wars her whole life - NONE. She can barely swing a sword and has absolutely no edge or presence to her (and dont even get me started on the almost baby voice). I dont know whose decision this was - but it was not the right one for this character. I mean, I will stick it out - cause RC is amazing!. But, ugh!

oof - whoever wrote this just needs to go find anther job now. What an absolute crap script.
Has to have one of THE dumbest FL character - like sooooo dumb. Kidnpapped 3 times, drugged twice and just kept walking into things blindly, then having to be rescued ALL. THE. TIME. She was so absolutely useless.
Weird violence tendencies from ML to FL for NOO reason
Crazy Auntie Man whose whole logic of making him not forget how horrible and abusive stepmommy/villain were was to beat him - I was like, what, the, actual f*ck is that!
The stupid childhood friends trope - this mostly annoyed me because the FL knew how awful stepmom/half-brother were and yet, she still went running to them for help (see back to the dumb comment)
Just save yourself the headache - even DGZ's abs couldn't save this one.

totally with you on this review - especially in regards tot he FL. Almost stopped watching because of her - -plus, that AWFUL baby voice - ugh! gave me a headache.
But, right on point about DGZ!

Have to say - one of DGZ's better performances - beyond just the abs and kissing.
FL actress was ok, but the character was awful (dumb and ditzy and styled horribly) and my ears and head hurt with the baby voice.

OMG - what a hot mess this was.
Whoever wrote this FL character - just stop now. And whoever styled this FL character - you can stop now as well. The absolutely horrible baby doll dresses with combat boots that were too big, the chunky penny loafers with mid-calf socks paired with old-lady suits that were too short, those god-awful black shorts and just generally everything being way too short. I hate it when they dress FL characters like this - all it does is show off her stick legs and nobby knees. She just isn't tall enough or big enough to pull these outfits off.
I also wasn't sure what they were going for with this character - I seriously thought she was a senior in high school - so, was a bit thrown by the 'intimate' scenes - cause she clearly didnt feel old enough. This is just poor casting - this actress did not fit this role at all.
She also just drove me nuts with how dumb she could be. And the back and forth - staying/going, like you/dont like you then add in the martyr syndrome/noble sacrifice bullshit. Everything about this character drove me nuts.
Script was just a hot mess
Only saving graces are that its short and ML's bare chest.

pretty dang good short. These are always a hit or miss - so its great when you hit a good one. Totally worth the watch.
Main couple was great, had good chemistry and super-cute together. I always appreciate these more when the couple has good communication, no misunderstandings, no stupid love-triangles.
Story stayed on track snd was paced nicely
villains got what they deserved in the end - except maybe her parents, but that is pretty minor

oof - that was hard to get through - very messy script/story
Loved the Su Mo character the best - just so well done (sad that we will never see this actor again due to his scandals). But, man, did her capture and carry this role so well.
Thought ZYC did a great job of portraying the human, internal struggle of a young guy who gets thrust into his role and has to constantly weigh what he wants personally wants with what is best for his people. The scene when he cries with the general ling was perfection.
Hated most all of the female characters - mostly because they were all so dumb.
FL spends most of this drama wondering around with this perpetual look of concern/worry/about to burst into tears, dear in the headlights look on her face. While she could fight - spend most of this being rescued and having to be healed/saved by the ML - I found her kind of useless. She was that FL were you couldn't really understand what all the fuss was about.
The setup for this love story with the leads was done so poorly, you dont really get the feeling of some enduring love and why all the angst once separated. Which then leaves you completely bewildered though most of it and no real chemistry.
Na Sheng - just wanted to punch this girl. I get they were trying to go for innocent teenager/first love scenario. I was shocked to see that it was mostly women who wrote this - because it sure didnt feel like whoever wrote this character understood teenage girls at all. Instead, she felt more like an annoying 10yrd old who had to touch everything, say everything that comes into her brain and was generally annoying. I just wanted to scream at her most of this drama to STFU!! Teenage girls are angsty and hate adults - so this character did not worker me AT ALL.
Yan Xi was super cute - but, honestly, this pairing was not needed in the slightest.
Xi Ling was THE BEST and his bromance with the CP is fantastic.
Crappy, confusing ending - which made sensed in its own weird way - cause this drama was so confusing in lots of places.

Exactly - there was nothing legendary or General about this FL character

Just finished this and with most dramas - some will like and some won't. I knew I was probably going to be a bit disappointed because this drama got over-hyped for so long - so I was someone what prepared or that. But it was even more disappointing that I thought it would - mostly because, whoever wrote this should just retire now. Thought all the actors/actresses did their jobs well - just a poorly constructed story - from the get-go.
From the outset - to many things thing with the FL character that I had to suspend my disbelief to accept the character.
Set up: She is a young woman who was forced to grow up as a boy to substitute for her sickly brother, ran off to join the military and became a battle-worn general, comes home and gets betrayed by her family to make room of the brother who has recovered and come back, "dies", comes back to pretend to be a boy again to join the military so she can regain her standing as a general.
My problems are - to begin with, I had a hard time believing that this tiny woman who probably weighs no more that 90lb, soaking wet , no muscle definition, is supposed to be some magnificent warrior - did not buy it from the get-go; adult brother and sister weren't even close in size or build (could pass when they were kinds - but once older - not even close!) - so how anyone is not noticing that marked difference is absurd; after she dies - she talks about now being able to be herself - then immediately starts pretending to be someone else; worn-torn general turns into chatty-cathy teenage girl - pretending to be boy - it was ridiculous; her unfettered access to the general once she joins his army (would never happen) - it just started to be too many things very quickly that I had to suspend that made this character not work for me.
I think my biggest problem is that she never held the room - no gravitas to this character. She is supposed to be the battled-tested general, super-strategist, military prodigy (if you will) - and yet, she has NO presence (the only time I really saw this was that final battle scene at the end) - It really struck me during the Rundu battle and the difference when she shows up (backed turned to general li when he comes to greet her and she is supposed to make this dramatic turnaround - instead its just this tiny woman with her peeps) - vs, when General Xiao arrives and this very dramatic entrance when he comes to save the day - he ENTERED the room.
Romance was there - just not developed well - so its kind of hit or miss.
I would agree with others - too much time spent on side characters and stories that were just kind of pointless (total filler).
I do want to give a shout out to Chu Zao character - this was done very well.
Last three episodes were like a whole new set of writers came in - its clear they wrapped up the main story too early and got left with 3 episodes they needed to fill and created all this stupid angst and bullshit and then wrap up it with a c pretty bow at the end. So dumb.
That all being said - if you like this genre and enjoy watching Ryan Cheng - give it a go - you may like it.

Thank you for this review - you really did put into words what I was thinking/feeling as I watched it. Imbalance was such perfect description. I struggled the whole time as to why I was bothered by this character as she was written. It was like they couldn't decided what they wanted to do with her - which made the character unbalanced.

Basically - the short, not so good version of Marry My Husband

Its on my list, I was waiting for it to finish! (I like to be abke to watch a show all the way through and not wait for episodes 😁)

I dont expect a lot form shorts - but this made my head hurt. Super choppy and skips around too much. Too many storyline holes and things that just do not make sense.

Just finished this and it was kind of a hit and miss for me. Didn’t love, but didn’t hate it. Just kind of ‘meh’
Great cinematography.
I like the ML - I thought he did a great job of portraying a traumatized young man coming to life. FL was just ok for me.
Eye contact with leads was amazing – this is really what drove the good chemistry – but the physical part of their romance was not so amazing, nice, but just ok.
This is a very typical extrovert (FL) vs introvert (ML) dynamic – which is usually that the extrovert doesn’t understand how introverts work and think operate just like them – when they do not. Especially an introvert with some pretty sever trauma.
I Didnt like how they tried to equate, and almost tried to make her trauma of her moms death more important or severe than his trauma. Yes, it's traumatic to have your mom die at an early age - but that was nothing compared to absolute horrific damage his mom did to him - and it felt almost glossed over at times. One bg difference is that she still had love and support from her family - he did not. She was cared for and spoiled and he was abandoned and abused – big difference.
The constant push/pull game the FL played was annoying. She was too much of a princess for me and too often played that 'do as I say, not as I do' game. She exhausted me with her getting mad at the drop of a hat, she was very needy, jumped to wrong conclusions all the time, was petty and it was always about her – her feelings, her pain, her need for whatever it was at the moment. It just made this relationship feel so unbalanced. And as the 'older' person in the relationship (which she liked to throw out a lot) - she really was so childish. She got a bit better towards the end, but I was so tired by her by then, I almost didn’t care.
They were both horrible communicators and had trust issues - but his made more sense than hers. Again, the difference being - someone who came from a pretty stable upbringing vs a traumatic upbringing.
Now - this is a writing/script problem - her not understanding why he is bad at communicating because of his trauma and her thinking he should behave the way she thought he should and when he doesn’t, she gets mad and goes off and does something stupid. Case in point - when she takes him home for New Years and he overhears her aunties dissing him and he withdraws (which is completely normal for someone with this kind of trauma) - instead of talking to him cause she just expects him to tell her (which someone with this kind of trauma is not going to do) - she gets mad at him and is then kind of mean to him. He then has to come begging for forgiveness. When, in the end - it's her aunties fault for talking crap about him while he is in the house - it was so rude! and No one ever apologizes to him. Instead, its him apologizing for withdrawing and asking for forgiveness.
Then rinse and repeat this kind of scenario numerous times. It got old, real quick.
I also did not get the whole sense of urgency she had about finding the ring - which, of course, causes problems cause she keeps running of to her old boss without telling him (after she said she would not go to him). She lies about it, not once, but twice. I get that is mostly plot device - but it made no sense.
In the end, just such a weird story - basically two people who have tremendous trust and communications issues that we have to spend all over 18 episodes pushing through (and not in a good way). It does end up ok – but not sure the payout was worth all the annoyance.
Second couple was kind of nice – but not necessary. I just do not get Asian drama’s obsession with the second couple. I did like the Kai Kai character – mostly. But the whole setup with him liking the FL until he finds out it wasn’t her who saved him and then immediately moves on to the person who did. Was just dumb. However, I loved his relationship with the 2FL’s son – this was precious.
LOVED ML’s grandma and their relationship was wonderful.

phew - just finished it - but it took me a bit to get through it
One of those dramas that was completely frustrating all the way through - for various reasons. You hold out waiting to get clarity and satisfaction at the ned - only to be completely disappointed.
It did take me til the end to figure out why I struggled with the main FL - I get she is supposed to morally ambiguous - but the real problem is that they don't give enough back story on her early enough on - how did she end up there, what's her story (pre meeting the monk)- what makes her so morally ambiguous. You get bread crumbs along the way - but it just does not make sense and by the time you struggle to piece it all together - I just didnt care anymore - mostly because it didnt feel complete. I always get something was missing in understanding the motivation of this character.
I thought the actress playing this character was fantastic - just a strangely written character that is missing pieces.
Of course - I could say this about most of the main characters - really.
Only Soup Dumpling has the most fleshed out back story. But he kind annoyed me in his inability to see through White Marsh guy.
As a couple - so just wanted to smack both gof them - talk about bad communication - the constant keeping of info, never explaining anything, the noble sacrifice shit at the end - just, no, no, no.
The Prince was kind of interesting - wish they had flushed out his half-demon stuff more, but I just cant with characters that are soooo desperate for an abusive parent's attention. And then try to redeem said abusive parent on their death bed - no, no, no thank you.
The food aspect of this was wierd - either especially the canaballistic aspect of eating mythical beasts (she is a mythical beast herself and eats other mythical beasts - not to mention all the noble people eating them)) and sacrificing children
I could go on - there are som many things problematic with this. it was an interesting concept - just not done well.
I will give kudos to the costume department - beautifully done!