Just finished this and, as with most commentators - wow, what a disappointment. Loved all the actors - they all did a great job - but this was just bad scripting and directing. Leads start off interesting - both cunning and scheming - which is what makes them a good pairing (albeit, he is far better at it than her). But then they turn him into a lovesick puppy - he loses all his edge and we even, mostly, lose his original plot story (they do come back to it eventually and tie it up) and it al becomes about her. Now, I wouldn't even have minded this if they then didnt make her the most nonsensical, stubborn to the point of absurdity character. She is clearly clever - but they have her making THE dumbest decisions. The biggest and most infuriating is the constant decision to NOT trust the ML. This guy literally saves her life more than 5 times and yet, she insists on not asking for his help or trusting him - it made no sense AT ALL. As viewer it was also frustrating to watch the girl who think she is smarter than most try to be all sneaky and yet, everyone knows what she is doing all the time and she almost always gets caught or makes a big mess and guess who has to come save - that's right the ML!. Then there is her constant actions of running straight into the vipers den - all by herself - with no backup, with no fighting skills - always thinking she can just sweet-talk her way out - it just made you want to throw things at your screen. And, usually, doesnt turn out well and someone has to come save her. (you guessed it - the ML!) This character also had almost NO growth throughout the series until the very end and then it was just too late to really like her and I didnt really care if she lived or died. And, yes, the script goes completely off the rails in the second have (wasn't totally on the rails the first half) - we get completely away from the original story - stupid tropes all over the place (falling off the cliff, amnesia, poisoning - you name it, they try to throw it in there). Chemistry with leads is just ok - they dont spend a lot of time here - so its hard to build it up, but what little time they do - it was just ok - mostly because you don't really feel it from the FL. In the first half its all a ploy to get him to trust her and in the second half she has amnesia and thru out that she is just pushing him away (is some pretty horrible ways) - mostly because her focus is trying to save her brother. It just wasn't balanced - cause he goes all in mid-way (which then changes his character completely). The whole thing was just done so poorly. Usual crap fathers in the King and Right Minister Side character were actually pretty good (which they usually aren't) Costuming and failing were pretty good. Was it worth the watch - only slightly cause I love the ML and keep waiting for him to get a really good drama - was hoping this might be it - but, no.
Just finished this and it was a slog to get through. I really only stuck with it because of LL - love him! It starts off good and the first few episodes are good and the last few episodes are good - but everything else was just painful to get through. This is mostly due to the FL character (not the actress-she did her job!) - she takes stubborn to a whole new level, combined with someone who isn't very smart. She was just beyond frustrating. This plays out mostly with her inabilty to move beyond the set script she had read (and not even fully read as she admits multiple times).The whole thing with the 'iconic' scenes that she doesn't seem to get. While they technically happen - they never happen the way she remembers from the original script. All of them change in some form and have different outcomes and yet, she can't seem to grasp this. When the ML finally learns about them - he figures it out in 2 episodes! And the whole backlash thing at the end totally didnt work for me cause it is the FL who has causes ALL of this. From the get go she comes into the script and doesnt want to die because she likes be ing the daughter of rich nobleman - she wants to continue living the easy/rich life and immediately sets out to change the ending from the moment she arrives - so why is it that the ML get the backlash?? And every bad thing that happens is because she constantly gets in the middle of things and mucks it all up. They just dragged it out too long and had her being an awful person that by the time I got to ep 30ish - where they finally try to start and redeem her - it just been too long and now I just want her to go away. I felt bad for General Chu - here was character whose whole life and understanding of the people around him completely crumbles and every time he asks her why - she just says- you won't understand and walks away - so I totally understood how he ended up the way he did. WYS does a great job of portraying a guy falling into madness. While he does some despicable things at the end - I just felt bad for him - he was completely abandoned by everyone around him. Mr Song - one of the best dads - he was so adorable! Liked the Riley Wang character- could have cared less about the romance with the sister. Just did not interest me in the slightest and dint add much to the story. Emperor was a mixed bag - they do the redemption thing with him as well - but, I was like, no - you treated your son like dirt under your shoe for 18yrs (humiliated him and tortured him at every turn) because you blamed him for something he didn't do, didn't bother to find out what actually happened - and then, voila - the truth comes out and your like - oh, sorry, here be the crown prince.
not too bad for a short - definitely worth a watch. Costuming - just top notch Chemistry with leads - really good, although the FL could stand to move her lips a bit more - not quite dead-fish, but close. It's that weird thing where she moves her head, but not her lips. ML really does carry the show - did especially well with the twin thing (can I just say, loved the "twin' more! - he was super fun and sexy) Great sidekick in Du Bin - usually these characters are just dumb as rocks/meat heads - he actually had brains and was useful. Ending clearly indicates a S2 - but thats not probably not gonna happen - but who knows!
Not too bad for a short. No choppy, jumping around editing problem story stays on track Main couple is pretty good - not a sizzling couple, but they work Definitely worth at least one go-around Weird ending 0 which s pretty standard for cdramas - long or short
ok - thats was mind-numbing bad. Save yourself the time - move along. A FL character that is Queen - is somewhat smart, but not that smart - kind of like the person in the room who thinks they are the smartest person, but they are just average, but have this ridiculous attitude of being so - just got annoying after a bit. She's isn't dumb, just not that smart. And her whole childish antics all the time of trying to bed the king - cause she thinks she is all that, when she isn't - just went on too long. ML was just ok -havent seen him in anything else, but was not impressed at all here. Just mind-numbingly stupid script
short, quick and kind of cute Subs are bad - so be prepared (weird things like him calling her mother, instead of wife; misgendered pronouns in a lot of places) Very choppy editing - bad transitions, so becomes very jerky - this could have uses 1 or 2 more episode to even it out. ML is a cutie - patutie. FL wasn't my cup of tea. their chemistry was ok. Really wish they would stop setting up a character (the FL in this case) - to be this bad-ass general, practiced martial arts since a kid - but then the they cant really fight or handle a sword very well. She had the bitchy attitude down (not that that makes one a good general or fighter) - but I get why they thought they needed to do this - trying to make her look tough - cause as soon as they show her practicing with her sword - its clear she is not very good at it.
just finished this and have to say - one of the better shorts out there - definitely worth the watch. good chemistry with the leads a smart and funny FL who is actually helpful/strategic Good communication between them Good pace with the story and it doesnt feel like any missing pieces - which is usually what happens with shorts. Makeup artist went a little crazy with the lipstick and eyeshadow on the ML - but, that's a minor thing. As well as the glossy lipstick on the FL that always looked like it was mostly rubbed off - I just wanted to give her a hanky and tell her to wipe her lips the whole drama - lol! Loved the ML's costumes. Not a big fan of the over flowey, pastel pink FL's costumes And my god, just about threw up with the room that looked like a pink pastel crayon exploded in it (just cannot stand this color - so, thats just me) Give it a go - I think you will like it
finished it, but a bit of a chore. its not often that I criticize a ML for not knowing how ti kiss - but these two were just the worst. usually its theFL who just doesnt move - but it was both of them here - lordy was that awful. it didnt help that they didnt have a lot of chemistry. cant say I was that impressed with actress playing the FL - did not like the character so it didn't help that the actress playing her was not that great either. And, my god, if you aregoing to have scenes where the FL is supposed to be able to dance seductively - at least get an actress who can dance - just sayin' Had not seen the ML before - he was ok - looked good with the white hair though! storyline was a hot mess and you basically get the story on rinse and repeat in the second half - multiple times - total filler - which is a lot for as short. ambiguous ending - like, if I have to go read discussion thread to figure out what the hell was going in - then its just poorly done.
Didnt hate it, but didnt love it either. Was just kind of ok. Good filler if you are waiting for something else - but dont have any high expectations. The whole bracelet thing was a fail - introduce this idea and then completely drop - it was the only thing that was kind of interesting and different about the plot - poor decision from the writers/directors. Cause, really, it was the only thing that made the FL character have any value to the story. While I thought the actress for the FL was fine - the character was poorly written. A girl who grew up on the streets, yet has no street sense. She gets introduced as a charlatan (which would require knowing how to read people) and, yet, she is horrible at it - cant read a room or the people around her save her life. Why they insist on always making this kind of character be overly virtuous and sweet- when, really, she would have had more of an edge to her (which would have been more interesting) - otherwise, she was kind of boring and stupid (like, dumb as rocks stupid sometimes). ML was typical cold, tsundre character - which the actor did well. Could have done without all the heavy eye makeup on him - it was just weird. Typical rushed ending that was a bit unsatisfying. Redeeming of characters that should never be redeemed. Killing off beloved characters for no reason The usual cdrama silliness.
I am shocked to see that the screenwriter for this was a woman - causes, seriously - this was a such a male point of view and clearly someone who has issues with women and anger. But, I am guessing this has more to do with the director than the screenwriter. Dont get me wrong - she gets some payback - but not nearly to the level that equates to the abuse, humiliation and torture he puts her through for three years (not to mention the abuse, torture and humiliation he lets his wife do to her) - it was abhorrent. And, as usual with cdramas - all due to misunderstanding, not communicating, making wrong assumptions based on heresay, serious anger management issues (by pretty much all the main characters) in an effort to create drama/angst - there are just better ways to do this then to romanticize this kind of behavior. Rushed ending - like, seriously, nothing about Lady Kun who is basically the one who orchestrated it all. Did enjoy the throat stab at the end show - man did he deserve that!
Not too bad as shorts go - usual plot holes, not so great direction, low production value - the usual Leads were ok - chemistry was just so-so. But at least you have tow actors who can actually kiss - no dead-fish kissing here! But, not sure thats enough to save it. Once again, disappointed in a poorly written FL character. She is an archaeology student and yet, not that smart. Spends waaaayy too much time drunk. She was better towards the end. I also hate when they write these where they insist on the FL having to be in every scene. It just makes no sense in too many places. And then it's just annoying cause she comes across as super-clingy and a control freak - this need to have to know everything in the moment it happens just irritates me to no end. Villain was just pathetic usual messy, rushed ending That being said - I would say - add this your filler list if you need something quick and easy to watch while waiting on other things.
This has such great potential - but just didnt get there in the end. I think the biggest flaw was the FL character She is introduced as trained assassin - but loses almost fight she is in, completely irrational most of the time - spends a better part of the 1st half just running around screaming that she is going to kill people - yet never even gets close and really kind of stupid most of the time (I know she lost her dad at a young age, but there is no reason that she wouldn't have been able to read by this time). I also couldn't take her seriously as a trained assassin when as soon as she opening her mouth - this childish voice came out and she ran around acting like a bratty teenager - it just didnt track with someone who has been trained to kill. Villains all get off pretty easy usual, stupid, rushed ending. That being said - I have seen worse shorts and its not a bad filler - just be prepared to be annoyed by the FL and unsatisfied with the last few episodes.
just finished this and mostly is just - WTF was that! Such a hot mess of a story. As usual with shorts - bad editing made it worse. The story had potential - but just executed poorly. I liked all the actors - but the leads didn't have a ton of chemistry (and can I just say- the usual problem of a FL actress that doesn't know how to kiss - moves her head, but not her lips - it was weird) I am also - always amazed at how proficient cdrama lovers are at reproduction - sex once and bam - there's a baby! Which, of course, she doesnt tell him about. Could have done without the whole second romance with the brother and slave girl - just so not necessary to the story and they spent way too much time on her in the end. And when she was on screen - just wanted to smack her - she was the epitome of base trauma/stockhom syndrome girl - mistaking kindness for love - just made me ill. HATED the ending - no consequences, whatsoever for the Dad, who is basically the one responsible for his son turning out that way. They do the usual - he begs forgiveness on his deathbed nonsense. Then there is the whole idea of the ML wanting to take responsibility for his brothers horrendous actions - like, seriously - you all need to learn about personal responsibility - NONE of what he did was the ML's fault. The very idea that because you didn't 'teach' him well made him this way, instead of the fact that your Dad, the palace life, and his own choices did this - is absurd. One is not responsible for others actions.
I know its a short and that can cause ALL sorts of eating issues and choppy storyline - but this was one was particalaruy bad - just jumped to much and left waaayy too many plot holes. Ending is a mess and dont even get me started that the 2FL gets offsScott free - absolutely NO consequences for anything she did. And can we be done with the spoiled, rich girl who likes the guy - who has absolutely no interest in them, then can't take rejection and does all sorts of horrible things, Its a tired old trope. Same goes for the 2ML who gets obsessed with the FL after one meeting. Just makes me roll my eyes. Another FL character that was kind of ridiculous - what is it with this revenge thing - instead of trying to actually figure out what happen - goes right to - I am going to destroy this whole family -which, of course, is always the problem that she has got the story completely wrong - and, instead of finding out the truth first - she causes ALL sorts of problems - it makes my head hurt. cdramas have a real thing with blame first, punish first AND then find out what really happens later. Really only watching this for ML
this had potential and then just didnt get there. ML was good, FL was just ok (she is not my favorite and she needs to work on her kissing skills) What lost me the most though was all the abusive relationship shit that is romanticized here. FFS - he basally rapes her, sexually assaults her multiple times, throat chokes her multiple times - all under the guise of being the bad guy to not give himself away, trying to scare her off so she leaves, etc.. On the flip side - she tries to kill him multiple times, poisons him, tries to use her feminine wiles to get him to do shit ( I say try, because it just came across as creepy and not seductive at all) So, yeah - if you like highly toxic romances that they then try to turn into some romance for the ages crap - this may be for you. I also just hate this kind of FL character - not that bright, ragefull the point hat she can't use her brain (you would think after 5yrs - she could have some sense of rationality), easily manipulated, constantly making really bad decisions - just wanted to slap her through out of this. I mean, common - you lover stabs you and you dont think there is something fishy about that, no desire to find out why - just right to rage and I want to kill you! Girl has some serious anger management issues. Another crap Enid/=last episode - the usual rushed ending with a TON of plot holes.
One of those dramas that I realized half-way through was just not made for me. While I enjoyed watching SWL and ARP (who I thought carried the show) - the rest of it was just kind of 'meh' for me. The story just didnt grab me and I honestly didnt really care by the end. They kind of lost me early on with the whole evil clam - it was just beyond silly. I mean it had me laughing cause it was so ridiculous and I am not sure that is what they were going for. To then move on to the whole Bigfoot monster - I was just rolling my eyes at this point and this is when I realized that I was clearly not the audience for this drama. I was also a bit thrown by the FL at the beginning, cause I couldn't quite tell what they were going for here - she felt like a teenager and I was shocked to find out she is actually older than the ML - cause I thought she was only like 20 yrs old. I dont know if the VoiceOver is her actual voice (and while I was glad it was a baby-voice) - it just didnt seem to fit and made her feel way younger. There were other weird VoiceOver issues all the way through - the worst being the VoiceOver for the female villain towards the end - not even close! and why they have her speaking English made NO sense. This character was also a bit inconsistent - they bring her on as this amazing fighter - then she is constantly having to get saved/rescued. And dont even get me started on the whole split personality story line - just done so poorly. Then there was her adopted mom - who, at the end of the day is kind of responsible for this (along with so many other things). in typical asian mom fashion - she tries to get her daughter to just eat the guilt and move on instead of actually helping her deal with the trauma she just endured. The Mr Kun character also didnt work for me - he is supposed to be the 'expert' and yet, is never the one to really figure the important stuff out - he really is just a plot-ploy character. I also really hate it when they feel the need to throw in a romance, but then dont actually do anything with it. It was kind of weird - while definitely some chemistry (SWL and his smoldery eyes will get you every time) - the FL was kind of stiff on this front. It just wasn't necessary to the story. ok - gonna stop there, cause I could write a novel about all the things that were wrong with this script - which really just reinforces that I am not the audience for this.
Didnt love, but didnt hate it. Mainly a script problem and not so great FL character. Script just doesnt flow well - not a bad idea - but it is messy - this could just be due to it being a short and bad editing - not sure. FL character - just had had it with her about half-way through and by the end - just did not care. I am not sure what they were going of with this character - beyond just a love interest. She had no depth, didnt really do much - usually this character would have a job of some sort - or being that she is the daughter of a general - be int he military - but, nope - she just hangs around all day. They introduce her as someone who can fight (kind of), get archery skills and is often talked about how she grew up in military camps with her dad - but, apparently - she learned nothing from this. Horrible strategist, constantly had to be rescued - got caught EVERY time she went sleuthing - EVERY TIME!. Acted on impulse without thinking through anything - and it always turned out horrible and usually injury to the ML. And then she does the noble sacrifice thing (which I hated because she basically just discounted/ignored all his sacrifices and pain he went through to save her) - now, it works out in the end (cause its a drama) - but she just wanted to do what she wanted and didnt care about the rest. She just was not the brightest bulb on the tree The actress who played her was ok - but not much depth there either - she basically spent the entire drama with this terse look on her face the whole time. Chemistry with leads was good - but horrible relationship - they didn't tell each other anything when they should and she kept running off doing stupid shit. She totally lost me when they do the obligatory separation arc - which was fine - but she was unnecessarily cruel. Could have done without the Huan Yan character - mostly, she just didn't really add anything to the story - kind of like an annoying fly buzzing around. Although I was also very unsatisfied with her ending - it was too easy. ML really carries this show - does a great job - hope he does more of this.
Loved all the actors - they all did a great job - but this was just bad scripting and directing.
Leads start off interesting - both cunning and scheming - which is what makes them a good pairing (albeit, he is far better at it than her). But then they turn him into a lovesick puppy - he loses all his edge and we even, mostly, lose his original plot story (they do come back to it eventually and tie it up) and it al becomes about her.
Now, I wouldn't even have minded this if they then didnt make her the most nonsensical, stubborn to the point of absurdity character. She is clearly clever - but they have her making THE dumbest decisions. The biggest and most infuriating is the constant decision to NOT trust the ML. This guy literally saves her life more than 5 times and yet, she insists on not asking for his help or trusting him - it made no sense AT ALL.
As viewer it was also frustrating to watch the girl who think she is smarter than most try to be all sneaky and yet, everyone knows what she is doing all the time and she almost always gets caught or makes a big mess and guess who has to come save - that's right the ML!.
Then there is her constant actions of running straight into the vipers den - all by herself - with no backup, with no fighting skills - always thinking she can just sweet-talk her way out - it just made you want to throw things at your screen. And, usually, doesnt turn out well and someone has to come save her. (you guessed it - the ML!)
This character also had almost NO growth throughout the series until the very end and then it was just too late to really like her and I didnt really care if she lived or died.
And, yes, the script goes completely off the rails in the second have (wasn't totally on the rails the first half) - we get completely away from the original story - stupid tropes all over the place (falling off the cliff, amnesia, poisoning - you name it, they try to throw it in there).
Chemistry with leads is just ok - they dont spend a lot of time here - so its hard to build it up, but what little time they do - it was just ok - mostly because you don't really feel it from the FL. In the first half its all a ploy to get him to trust her and in the second half she has amnesia and thru out that she is just pushing him away (is some pretty horrible ways) - mostly because her focus is trying to save her brother. It just wasn't balanced - cause he goes all in mid-way (which then changes his character completely). The whole thing was just done so poorly.
Usual crap fathers in the King and Right Minister
Side character were actually pretty good (which they usually aren't)
Costuming and failing were pretty good.
Was it worth the watch - only slightly cause I love the ML and keep waiting for him to get a really good drama - was hoping this might be it - but, no.
It starts off good and the first few episodes are good and the last few episodes are good - but everything else was just painful to get through.
This is mostly due to the FL character (not the actress-she did her job!) - she takes stubborn to a whole new level, combined with someone who isn't very smart. She was just beyond frustrating.
This plays out mostly with her inabilty to move beyond the set script she had read (and not even fully read as she admits multiple times).The whole thing with the 'iconic' scenes that she doesn't seem to get. While they technically happen - they never happen the way she remembers from the original script. All of them change in some form and have different outcomes and yet, she can't seem to grasp this. When the ML finally learns about them - he figures it out in 2 episodes!
And the whole backlash thing at the end totally didnt work for me cause it is the FL who has causes ALL of this. From the get go she comes into the script and doesnt want to die because she likes be ing the daughter of rich nobleman - she wants to continue living the easy/rich life and immediately sets out to change the ending from the moment she arrives - so why is it that the ML get the backlash??
And every bad thing that happens is because she constantly gets in the middle of things and mucks it all up.
They just dragged it out too long and had her being an awful person that by the time I got to ep 30ish - where they finally try to start and redeem her - it just been too long and now I just want her to go away.
I felt bad for General Chu - here was character whose whole life and understanding of the people around him completely crumbles and every time he asks her why - she just says- you won't understand and walks away - so I totally understood how he ended up the way he did. WYS does a great job of portraying a guy falling into madness. While he does some despicable things at the end - I just felt bad for him - he was completely abandoned by everyone around him.
Mr Song - one of the best dads - he was so adorable!
Liked the Riley Wang character- could have cared less about the romance with the sister. Just did not interest me in the slightest and dint add much to the story.
Emperor was a mixed bag - they do the redemption thing with him as well - but, I was like, no - you treated your son like dirt under your shoe for 18yrs (humiliated him and tortured him at every turn) because you blamed him for something he didn't do, didn't bother to find out what actually happened - and then, voila - the truth comes out and your like - oh, sorry, here be the crown prince.
Costuming - just top notch
Chemistry with leads - really good, although the FL could stand to move her lips a bit more - not quite dead-fish, but close. It's that weird thing where she moves her head, but not her lips.
ML really does carry the show - did especially well with the twin thing (can I just say, loved the "twin' more! - he was super fun and sexy)
Great sidekick in Du Bin - usually these characters are just dumb as rocks/meat heads - he actually had brains and was useful.
Ending clearly indicates a S2 - but thats not probably not gonna happen - but who knows!
No choppy, jumping around editing problem
story stays on track
Main couple is pretty good - not a sizzling couple, but they work
Definitely worth at least one go-around
Weird ending 0 which s pretty standard for cdramas - long or short
A FL character that is Queen - is somewhat smart, but not that smart - kind of like the person in the room who thinks they are the smartest person, but they are just average, but have this ridiculous attitude of being so - just got annoying after a bit. She's isn't dumb, just not that smart. And her whole childish antics all the time of trying to bed the king - cause she thinks she is all that, when she isn't - just went on too long.
ML was just ok -havent seen him in anything else, but was not impressed at all here.
Just mind-numbingly stupid script
Subs are bad - so be prepared (weird things like him calling her mother, instead of wife; misgendered pronouns in a lot of places)
Very choppy editing - bad transitions, so becomes very jerky - this could have uses 1 or 2 more episode to even it out.
ML is a cutie - patutie. FL wasn't my cup of tea. their chemistry was ok.
Really wish they would stop setting up a character (the FL in this case) - to be this bad-ass general, practiced martial arts since a kid - but then the they cant really fight or handle a sword very well.
She had the bitchy attitude down (not that that makes one a good general or fighter) - but I get why they thought they needed to do this - trying to make her look tough - cause as soon as they show her practicing with her sword - its clear she is not very good at it.
good chemistry with the leads
a smart and funny FL who is actually helpful/strategic
Good communication between them
Good pace with the story and it doesnt feel like any missing pieces - which is usually what happens with shorts.
Makeup artist went a little crazy with the lipstick and eyeshadow on the ML - but, that's a minor thing. As well as the glossy lipstick on the FL that always looked like it was mostly rubbed off - I just wanted to give her a hanky and tell her to wipe her lips the whole drama - lol!
Loved the ML's costumes. Not a big fan of the over flowey, pastel pink FL's costumes
And my god, just about threw up with the room that looked like a pink pastel crayon exploded in it (just cannot stand this color - so, thats just me)
Give it a go - I think you will like it
its not often that I criticize a ML for not knowing how ti kiss - but these two were just the worst.
usually its theFL who just doesnt move - but it was both of them here - lordy was that awful. it didnt help that they didnt have a lot of chemistry.
cant say I was that impressed with actress playing the FL - did not like the character so it didn't help that the actress playing her was not that great either. And, my god, if you aregoing to have scenes where the FL is supposed to be able to dance seductively - at least get an actress who can dance - just sayin'
Had not seen the ML before - he was ok - looked good with the white hair though!
storyline was a hot mess and you basically get the story on rinse and repeat in the second half - multiple times - total filler - which is a lot for as short.
ambiguous ending - like, if I have to go read discussion thread to figure out what the hell was going in - then its just poorly done.
The whole bracelet thing was a fail - introduce this idea and then completely drop - it was the only thing that was kind of interesting and different about the plot - poor decision from the writers/directors. Cause, really, it was the only thing that made the FL character have any value to the story.
While I thought the actress for the FL was fine - the character was poorly written. A girl who grew up on the streets, yet has no street sense. She gets introduced as a charlatan (which would require knowing how to read people) and, yet, she is horrible at it - cant read a room or the people around her save her life. Why they insist on always making this kind of character be overly virtuous and sweet- when, really, she would have had more of an edge to her (which would have been more interesting) - otherwise, she was kind of boring and stupid (like, dumb as rocks stupid sometimes).
ML was typical cold, tsundre character - which the actor did well. Could have done without all the heavy eye makeup on him - it was just weird.
Typical rushed ending that was a bit unsatisfying.
Redeeming of characters that should never be redeemed.
Killing off beloved characters for no reason
The usual cdrama silliness.
Dont get me wrong - she gets some payback - but not nearly to the level that equates to the abuse, humiliation and torture he puts her through for three years (not to mention the abuse, torture and humiliation he lets his wife do to her) - it was abhorrent.
And, as usual with cdramas - all due to misunderstanding, not communicating, making wrong assumptions based on heresay, serious anger management issues (by pretty much all the main characters) in an effort to create drama/angst - there are just better ways to do this then to romanticize this kind of behavior.
Rushed ending - like, seriously, nothing about Lady Kun who is basically the one who orchestrated it all. Did enjoy the throat stab at the end show - man did he deserve that!
Leads were ok - chemistry was just so-so. But at least you have tow actors who can actually kiss - no dead-fish kissing here! But, not sure thats enough to save it.
Once again, disappointed in a poorly written FL character. She is an archaeology student and yet, not that smart. Spends waaaayy too much time drunk. She was better towards the end.
I also hate when they write these where they insist on the FL having to be in every scene. It just makes no sense in too many places. And then it's just annoying cause she comes across as super-clingy and a control freak - this need to have to know everything in the moment it happens just irritates me to no end.
Villain was just pathetic
usual messy, rushed ending
That being said - I would say - add this your filler list if you need something quick and easy to watch while waiting on other things.
I think the biggest flaw was the FL character
She is introduced as trained assassin - but loses almost fight she is in, completely irrational most of the time - spends a better part of the 1st half just running around screaming that she is going to kill people - yet never even gets close and really kind of stupid most of the time (I know she lost her dad at a young age, but there is no reason that she wouldn't have been able to read by this time). I also couldn't take her seriously as a trained assassin when as soon as she opening her mouth - this childish voice came out and she ran around acting like a bratty teenager - it just didnt track with someone who has been trained to kill.
Villains all get off pretty easy
usual, stupid, rushed ending.
That being said - I have seen worse shorts and its not a bad filler - just be prepared to be annoyed by the FL and unsatisfied with the last few episodes.
The story had potential - but just executed poorly.
I liked all the actors - but the leads didn't have a ton of chemistry (and can I just say- the usual problem of a FL actress that doesn't know how to kiss - moves her head, but not her lips - it was weird)
I am also - always amazed at how proficient cdrama lovers are at reproduction - sex once and bam - there's a baby! Which, of course, she doesnt tell him about.
Could have done without the whole second romance with the brother and slave girl - just so not necessary to the story and they spent way too much time on her in the end. And when she was on screen - just wanted to smack her - she was the epitome of base trauma/stockhom syndrome girl - mistaking kindness for love - just made me ill.
HATED the ending - no consequences, whatsoever for the Dad, who is basically the one responsible for his son turning out that way. They do the usual - he begs forgiveness on his deathbed nonsense.
Then there is the whole idea of the ML wanting to take responsibility for his brothers horrendous actions - like, seriously - you all need to learn about personal responsibility - NONE of what he did was the ML's fault. The very idea that because you didn't 'teach' him well made him this way, instead of the fact that your Dad, the palace life, and his own choices did this - is absurd. One is not responsible for others actions.
Another FL character that was kind of ridiculous - what is it with this revenge thing - instead of trying to actually figure out what happen - goes right to - I am going to destroy this whole family -which, of course, is always the problem that she has got the story completely wrong - and, instead of finding out the truth first - she causes ALL sorts of problems - it makes my head hurt. cdramas have a real thing with blame first, punish first AND then find out what really happens later.
Really only watching this for ML
ML was good, FL was just ok (she is not my favorite and she needs to work on her kissing skills)
What lost me the most though was all the abusive relationship shit that is romanticized here.
FFS - he basally rapes her, sexually assaults her multiple times, throat chokes her multiple times - all under the guise of being the bad guy to not give himself away, trying to scare her off so she leaves, etc..
On the flip side - she tries to kill him multiple times, poisons him, tries to use her feminine wiles to get him to do shit ( I say try, because it just came across as creepy and not seductive at all)
So, yeah - if you like highly toxic romances that they then try to turn into some romance for the ages crap - this may be for you.
I also just hate this kind of FL character - not that bright, ragefull the point hat she can't use her brain (you would think after 5yrs - she could have some sense of rationality), easily manipulated, constantly making really bad decisions - just wanted to slap her through out of this.
I mean, common - you lover stabs you and you dont think there is something fishy about that, no desire to find out why - just right to rage and I want to kill you! Girl has some serious anger management issues.
Another crap Enid/=last episode - the usual rushed ending with a TON of plot holes.
They kind of lost me early on with the whole evil clam - it was just beyond silly. I mean it had me laughing cause it was so ridiculous and I am not sure that is what they were going for. To then move on to the whole Bigfoot monster - I was just rolling my eyes at this point and this is when I realized that I was clearly not the audience for this drama.
I was also a bit thrown by the FL at the beginning, cause I couldn't quite tell what they were going for here - she felt like a teenager and I was shocked to find out she is actually older than the ML - cause I thought she was only like 20 yrs old. I dont know if the VoiceOver is her actual voice (and while I was glad it was a baby-voice) - it just didnt seem to fit and made her feel way younger.
There were other weird VoiceOver issues all the way through - the worst being the VoiceOver for the female villain towards the end - not even close! and why they have her speaking English made NO sense.
This character was also a bit inconsistent - they bring her on as this amazing fighter - then she is constantly having to get saved/rescued. And dont even get me started on the whole split personality story line - just done so poorly.
Then there was her adopted mom - who, at the end of the day is kind of responsible for this (along with so many other things). in typical asian mom fashion - she tries to get her daughter to just eat the guilt and move on instead of actually helping her deal with the trauma she just endured.
The Mr Kun character also didnt work for me - he is supposed to be the 'expert' and yet, is never the one to really figure the important stuff out - he really is just a plot-ploy character.
I also really hate it when they feel the need to throw in a romance, but then dont actually do anything with it. It was kind of weird - while definitely some chemistry (SWL and his smoldery eyes will get you every time) - the FL was kind of stiff on this front. It just wasn't necessary to the story.
ok - gonna stop there, cause I could write a novel about all the things that were wrong with this script - which really just reinforces that I am not the audience for this.
Mainly a script problem and not so great FL character.
Script just doesnt flow well - not a bad idea - but it is messy - this could just be due to it being a short and bad editing - not sure.
FL character - just had had it with her about half-way through and by the end - just did not care. I am not sure what they were going of with this character - beyond just a love interest. She had no depth, didnt really do much - usually this character would have a job of some sort - or being that she is the daughter of a general - be int he military - but, nope - she just hangs around all day. They introduce her as someone who can fight (kind of), get archery skills and is often talked about how she grew up in military camps with her dad - but, apparently - she learned nothing from this. Horrible strategist, constantly had to be rescued - got caught EVERY time she went sleuthing - EVERY TIME!. Acted on impulse without thinking through anything - and it always turned out horrible and usually injury to the ML. And then she does the noble sacrifice thing (which I hated because she basically just discounted/ignored all his sacrifices and pain he went through to save her) - now, it works out in the end (cause its a drama) - but she just wanted to do what she wanted and didnt care about the rest. She just was not the brightest bulb on the tree
The actress who played her was ok - but not much depth there either - she basically spent the entire drama with this terse look on her face the whole time.
Chemistry with leads was good - but horrible relationship - they didn't tell each other anything when they should and she kept running off doing stupid shit. She totally lost me when they do the obligatory separation arc - which was fine - but she was unnecessarily cruel.
Could have done without the Huan Yan character - mostly, she just didn't really add anything to the story - kind of like an annoying fly buzzing around. Although I was also very unsatisfied with her ending - it was too easy.
ML really carries this show - does a great job - hope he does more of this.