This review may contain spoilers
Finally! A costume drama worth watching in recent years!
While I will admit that this may not be a critic's choice in terms of masterful script-writing and artistic expression, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and did not even skip through at all. Every episode was so engaging. Pacing was done very well. It evokes all the necessary feelings that makes a good drama - at times you feel stressful angst, some parts make you laugh or cry, and in the end you walk away feeling satisfied to have invested all that time. Although I do wish it kept going to 40 episodes, I felt 36 was too short!
ACTING:
- FL Song Zu Er) is my favorite actress. I've been long awaiting the release of her dramas that were put on hold, and this one did not disappoint! This is her best role ever. Every aspect was perfection. Her tortured crying scenes broke your heart, her natural comedic charm shines, and her beauty was perfectly accentuated in her character styling.
- ML (Liu Yu Ning) This was the typical role that he's type-casted for. So it's not anything new or diverse of a role for him. But he did well as expected.
- Lead couple chemistry was on fire! Not just with the passion and loyalty, but the comedic fighting and the tense mistrust and hatred. They made you FEEL it with them.
- Support characters were all amazing! The 4 generals and their comradery, while very standard and tropey - it was just so endearing and funny, especially General Wei Liang (the chubby one). And his chemistry/brotherhood with the more stoic General Wei Qu was funny and heartfelt.
- Another standout performance was Wei Yan (ML's cousin). He was the most complex 4-dimensional character. He had me on the edge of my seat and guessing from start to finish...is he good? Is he evil? Is he a fence-sitter? Is he loyal or a traitor?
- I liked that all the actors used their own voices rather than out-of-place dubbed voices, and it worked rather well
COSTUME/PRODUCTION QUALITY
- Not the most high-budget production, but it did not take away from the experience. It certainly did not look low budget at all.
- Costume - one of the best I've seen in a long time. The main characters had so many costume changes that I lost track of how many outfits they had. And they were all high quality.
- Makeup and hair was very well done. The women looked flawless, not just the main female lead (just stunning), but even the support characters were all well put together. The wigs were amazing for both male and female characters.
OST
- The music was good, but I can't say that music stands out or is memorable
Overall I would watch this again just to watch the main couple on screen together.
ACTING:
- FL Song Zu Er) is my favorite actress. I've been long awaiting the release of her dramas that were put on hold, and this one did not disappoint! This is her best role ever. Every aspect was perfection. Her tortured crying scenes broke your heart, her natural comedic charm shines, and her beauty was perfectly accentuated in her character styling.
- ML (Liu Yu Ning) This was the typical role that he's type-casted for. So it's not anything new or diverse of a role for him. But he did well as expected.
- Lead couple chemistry was on fire! Not just with the passion and loyalty, but the comedic fighting and the tense mistrust and hatred. They made you FEEL it with them.
- Support characters were all amazing! The 4 generals and their comradery, while very standard and tropey - it was just so endearing and funny, especially General Wei Liang (the chubby one). And his chemistry/brotherhood with the more stoic General Wei Qu was funny and heartfelt.
- Another standout performance was Wei Yan (ML's cousin). He was the most complex 4-dimensional character. He had me on the edge of my seat and guessing from start to finish...is he good? Is he evil? Is he a fence-sitter? Is he loyal or a traitor?
- I liked that all the actors used their own voices rather than out-of-place dubbed voices, and it worked rather well
COSTUME/PRODUCTION QUALITY
- Not the most high-budget production, but it did not take away from the experience. It certainly did not look low budget at all.
- Costume - one of the best I've seen in a long time. The main characters had so many costume changes that I lost track of how many outfits they had. And they were all high quality.
- Makeup and hair was very well done. The women looked flawless, not just the main female lead (just stunning), but even the support characters were all well put together. The wigs were amazing for both male and female characters.
OST
- The music was good, but I can't say that music stands out or is memorable
Overall I would watch this again just to watch the main couple on screen together.
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