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.
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.
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!
Pretty standard short Would have been better if the FL character was so childish ML actor is the greatest - but do appreciate a ML who isn't a stick-thin idol
🤦♀️ An unfinished story A dumb FL who thinks she is clever, but only kind of Bad kissing scene (and yes, there is only 1) Very mediocre production quality Story is silly with lots of plot holes and stupidness
Just finished this and it was kind of hit and miss for me. The main couple were good - I liked how they got together early and no misunderstandings or love triangle - but not a ton of chemistry here. FL was kind of flat in that aspect. Coroner/detective stuff got super-repetitive after the first couple of cases. And, my god - the body count was ridiculous! Cases themselves weren't even that intriguing - I could almost always figure out who the murderer was at there very first appearance and it seemed like they were just going for how evil they could be. FL character was just too perfect - genius coroner, physician, strategist, forensic pathologist, miracle curer of all illnesses (all at the ripe ole age of no more than 21 yrs old)- it was just too much. They try to give her a flaw when ML asks her to make him a pouch and she claims isn't good at embroidery - which was kind of silly, given she is a physician - she should know how to sew. Now, if it had been something like asking her to write a poem or create music - it would have made more sense - but to claim she can't sew - nope! ML really does just become a secondary, support character for the FL - which was a waste of Ao Rupeng. Last episode gets SUPER messy - the usual, trying to tie up too many loose ends in a single episodes. Villain emperor was a bit too characturish - the crazy evil eyes all the time was just silly.
I waited util season 2 finished and then went back and watched season 1 - then watched the whole thing together. My main thought when I was done was - is man, you could have done all that in just one season. Don't get me wrong - loved all the actors/actresses in this - everyone did a great job and there was good chemistry between leads - they just didnt do enough with it and they dragged everything out way too long. I mean, I don't mind some slow burn - but, come on - having to wait 45 epodes before there is any real progression was too much. I was bored with the whole business stuff even during season 1 and they just dragged it into season 2 - it just wants that interesting after a while. And I get it - she's business genius - you didn't have to keep reminding me every 5 seconds. I really thought after how they ended season 1 - we would get more palace intrigue and the relationship in season 2 - but, no - just more her doing business everywhere. Mostly, I just felt a bit sad - two great actors in the leads, it was good idea, beautifully filmed and great costumes (not my favorite era with the ridiculous hair and makeup - but it was accurate) - but it just got stuck halfway through season 1 and didn't really get out of that rutt until second half of season 2. They just had too many aspects of this they just kept rehashing over and over and over. I dont know - cant say I hated it, just disappointed I guess. Give it a go and see what you think.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Would have been better if the FL character was so childish
ML actor is the greatest - but do appreciate a ML who isn't a stick-thin idol
An unfinished story
A dumb FL who thinks she is clever, but only kind of
Bad kissing scene (and yes, there is only 1)
Very mediocre production quality
Story is silly with lots of plot holes and stupidness
The main couple were good - I liked how they got together early and no misunderstandings or love triangle - but not a ton of chemistry here. FL was kind of flat in that aspect.
Coroner/detective stuff got super-repetitive after the first couple of cases. And, my god - the body count was ridiculous!
Cases themselves weren't even that intriguing - I could almost always figure out who the murderer was at there very first appearance and it seemed like they were just going for how evil they could be.
FL character was just too perfect - genius coroner, physician, strategist, forensic pathologist, miracle curer of all illnesses (all at the ripe ole age of no more than 21 yrs old)- it was just too much. They try to give her a flaw when ML asks her to make him a pouch and she claims isn't good at embroidery - which was kind of silly, given she is a physician - she should know how to sew. Now, if it had been something like asking her to write a poem or create music - it would have made more sense - but to claim she can't sew - nope!
ML really does just become a secondary, support character for the FL - which was a waste of Ao Rupeng.
Last episode gets SUPER messy - the usual, trying to tie up too many loose ends in a single episodes.
Villain emperor was a bit too characturish - the crazy evil eyes all the time was just silly.
My main thought when I was done was - is man, you could have done all that in just one season.
Don't get me wrong - loved all the actors/actresses in this - everyone did a great job and there was good chemistry between leads - they just didnt do enough with it and they dragged everything out way too long.
I mean, I don't mind some slow burn - but, come on - having to wait 45 epodes before there is any real progression was too much.
I was bored with the whole business stuff even during season 1 and they just dragged it into season 2 - it just wants that interesting after a while. And I get it - she's business genius - you didn't have to keep reminding me every 5 seconds.
I really thought after how they ended season 1 - we would get more palace intrigue and the relationship in season 2 - but, no - just more her doing business everywhere.
Mostly, I just felt a bit sad - two great actors in the leads, it was good idea, beautifully filmed and great costumes (not my favorite era with the ridiculous hair and makeup - but it was accurate) - but it just got stuck halfway through season 1 and didn't really get out of that rutt until second half of season 2.
They just had too many aspects of this they just kept rehashing over and over and over.
I dont know - cant say I hated it, just disappointed I guess. Give it a go and see what you think.
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.