1
Served Visuals, Served CP Excellence, and Served Justice!
The whole time I was watching, I would often joke to myself: What drugs did they put in this drama... why am I so addicted to it?
STORY:
I am going to be honest, there are a lot of plot holes in this show, especially in the cases. The case-solving aspect is not really tight if you compare it to other mystery shows. But considering that its other main genre is romance, it's a good enough romance-mystery show. In fact, the romance is too good and it makes up for all the faults in the case-solving.
Individually, Yan Chi and Shen Wan are strong characters; and together, even stronger. They are one of the healthiest couples I've seen in a while, and it's very hard not to love them. One of the things I love about them is how they're both willing to learn from each other, and this was especially evident in the earlier episodes. There are instances where they have different views, but they talk it out and gain new perspectives that broaden their minds. I particularly liked the scenes where Shen Wan lectures Yan Chi on due process and human rights (sorry, I'm a nerd) and Yan Chi reading the books that Shen Wan mentions in passing and a few scenes later, you see him citing quotes from said books (like, wow, what do you know about romance!)
Another thing I love about them is how they give each other both support and comfort. I won't cite specific scenes, but watch the show and you'll know! (A little spoiler: In the whole 38 episodes, there was not a single misunderstanding between them, and even during the times when they were still unfamiliar with each other and felt a little suspicious of each other's motives, they still treated each other with respect.)
Ultimately, the flaws in the story are mostly in the case-solving aspect. But in terms of the overarching plot, I think it's all good. In fact, the story kept me so entertained until the end! Not even the flaws can stop me from watching!
[RE: TALKS ABOUT JUSTICE] I like their little commentary about justice. It can be a little preachy, but I think it's because the heart of the show is Shen Wan's "revenge". Revenge is not just achieved in the form of "an eye for an eye", like most of the "villains" in each cases did. Revenge may also be achieved by putting those who do evil to you before the eyes of the law.
In line with this, I think I saw some people criticizing Shen Wan's character design for being "too perfect". While I do agree that Shen Wan (and even Yan Chi) have crazy protagonist halo, I think that rather than being "too perfect", Shen Wan is just an idealist. After all, she grew up as a daughter of the Minister of the Supreme Court. She is privileged and hasn't seen much of the world yet, until the events of the show happened. I wouldn't hold it against her if she comes off too strong with her beliefs. (In fact, I know a lot of people just like her.) I think this was even addressed in one of the cases, where one of the characters pointed out that she hasn't lived the same experiences as other women to make her own judgment about them by her own standards. So, no. I don't think she's "too perfect". I think she's just an idealist, who eventually came to know how the world truly works as the story progresses.
ACTING/CAST:
Li Landi, the actress that you are! Loved her micro-expressions so much! The way her lips quiver when she's about to cry, like she's holding it back is so on brand for Shen Wan's character design and her performance is just so good! I have always loved her and her performance in this show is just as good as the ones I've watched her in before. She's always improving and from her attitude while acting and her interviews, you just know how much respect she has for the craft.
Ao Ruipeng, you are now one of my elite employees! I actually first saw him in Seven Relics of Ill Omen and I liked his performance there, so I had a little deep dive into his works. Maybe it's my bias (from Seven Relics) but honestly, I used to think he suits the fun and silly characters more than the serious ones. But he was majestic as Yan Chi and he definitely brought Yan Chi to life. His admiring gazes for Shen Wan really sold the CP to me! He's so good at acting in love, I was going crazy every time they had a scene together. In addition to this, he is so good at creating chemistry with every dynamic he has in the show. His dynamic with Bai Feng is so fun to watch. It's not just the typical master-servant dynamic. It also had a hint of "I went through life and death with you. You may be my servant, but you are also one of my brothers" kind of dynamic. His dynamic with Yue Ning and Yan Li is also so lovely. He has that "older brother that they can always depend on and be a little immature to" vibe going on whenever he's with them. And his dynamic with his father was so heartbreaking. He portrayed a child yearning for his father's approval and love so well. The scenes with his father brought me to tears, like, I was crying for real.
Shen Yujie and Yu Chengen are also good! They are so funny and it's so fun seeing their antics.
Overall, the actors in this show are all so good and it's a joy to watch them all bring the characters to life. From the good guys to the bad guys, their acting are all online!
Special Mention: The actress for Qin Zhaoyu. I don't know, she's not really that important of a character, but she stood out so much for me. She just exudes so much grace and I can't help but root for her character.
MUSIC:
THE MUSIC HAS HIT #PLATINUM IN MY HOUSEHOLD. In fact, I already have them on rotation in my daily playlist.
The way the songs were utilized in the scenes in the drama is perfect. It effectively adds on the immersion you feel when you watch the scene. I particularly like it whenever they use Don't Sigh in heartbreaking and angsty scenes. It never fails to make me tear up. I also want to mention Ao Ruipeng's OST in particular. They always add it in the romantic scenes and it's just so perfect and heart-fluttering!
REWATCH VALUE:
Let's just say that every time I finish watching an episode, I immediately go to XHS or Weibo to watch edits or clips. That's how rewatchable it is for me. And I won't miss a single video.
OVERALL:
This drama is just too addicting. Sure, it has some flaws. But it's so entertaining! I loved every second of it, even the ones where I go, "Huh? That kinda doesn't make sense." If you don't want to watch it for the case-solving, at least watch it for the main couple. I have never seen a CP with this good chemistry, this good writing, and this perfect in a long time. They're just so compatible and healthy in a way that is still exciting to watch. I was so crazy about them and I don't think I will forget them for a very long time.
Also: The actors are all online. And they are captured perfectly by the production team. It's a visual feast.
I often say that you really just know when the crew enjoyed doing a project when you see the end result. This is one of those projects. It's definitely going to my Top Favorite Shows List in my heart.
STORY:
I am going to be honest, there are a lot of plot holes in this show, especially in the cases. The case-solving aspect is not really tight if you compare it to other mystery shows. But considering that its other main genre is romance, it's a good enough romance-mystery show. In fact, the romance is too good and it makes up for all the faults in the case-solving.
Individually, Yan Chi and Shen Wan are strong characters; and together, even stronger. They are one of the healthiest couples I've seen in a while, and it's very hard not to love them. One of the things I love about them is how they're both willing to learn from each other, and this was especially evident in the earlier episodes. There are instances where they have different views, but they talk it out and gain new perspectives that broaden their minds. I particularly liked the scenes where Shen Wan lectures Yan Chi on due process and human rights (sorry, I'm a nerd) and Yan Chi reading the books that Shen Wan mentions in passing and a few scenes later, you see him citing quotes from said books (like, wow, what do you know about romance!)
Another thing I love about them is how they give each other both support and comfort. I won't cite specific scenes, but watch the show and you'll know! (A little spoiler: In the whole 38 episodes, there was not a single misunderstanding between them, and even during the times when they were still unfamiliar with each other and felt a little suspicious of each other's motives, they still treated each other with respect.)
Ultimately, the flaws in the story are mostly in the case-solving aspect. But in terms of the overarching plot, I think it's all good. In fact, the story kept me so entertained until the end! Not even the flaws can stop me from watching!
[RE: TALKS ABOUT JUSTICE] I like their little commentary about justice. It can be a little preachy, but I think it's because the heart of the show is Shen Wan's "revenge". Revenge is not just achieved in the form of "an eye for an eye", like most of the "villains" in each cases did. Revenge may also be achieved by putting those who do evil to you before the eyes of the law.
In line with this, I think I saw some people criticizing Shen Wan's character design for being "too perfect". While I do agree that Shen Wan (and even Yan Chi) have crazy protagonist halo, I think that rather than being "too perfect", Shen Wan is just an idealist. After all, she grew up as a daughter of the Minister of the Supreme Court. She is privileged and hasn't seen much of the world yet, until the events of the show happened. I wouldn't hold it against her if she comes off too strong with her beliefs. (In fact, I know a lot of people just like her.) I think this was even addressed in one of the cases, where one of the characters pointed out that she hasn't lived the same experiences as other women to make her own judgment about them by her own standards. So, no. I don't think she's "too perfect". I think she's just an idealist, who eventually came to know how the world truly works as the story progresses.
ACTING/CAST:
Li Landi, the actress that you are! Loved her micro-expressions so much! The way her lips quiver when she's about to cry, like she's holding it back is so on brand for Shen Wan's character design and her performance is just so good! I have always loved her and her performance in this show is just as good as the ones I've watched her in before. She's always improving and from her attitude while acting and her interviews, you just know how much respect she has for the craft.
Ao Ruipeng, you are now one of my elite employees! I actually first saw him in Seven Relics of Ill Omen and I liked his performance there, so I had a little deep dive into his works. Maybe it's my bias (from Seven Relics) but honestly, I used to think he suits the fun and silly characters more than the serious ones. But he was majestic as Yan Chi and he definitely brought Yan Chi to life. His admiring gazes for Shen Wan really sold the CP to me! He's so good at acting in love, I was going crazy every time they had a scene together. In addition to this, he is so good at creating chemistry with every dynamic he has in the show. His dynamic with Bai Feng is so fun to watch. It's not just the typical master-servant dynamic. It also had a hint of "I went through life and death with you. You may be my servant, but you are also one of my brothers" kind of dynamic. His dynamic with Yue Ning and Yan Li is also so lovely. He has that "older brother that they can always depend on and be a little immature to" vibe going on whenever he's with them. And his dynamic with his father was so heartbreaking. He portrayed a child yearning for his father's approval and love so well. The scenes with his father brought me to tears, like, I was crying for real.
Shen Yujie and Yu Chengen are also good! They are so funny and it's so fun seeing their antics.
Overall, the actors in this show are all so good and it's a joy to watch them all bring the characters to life. From the good guys to the bad guys, their acting are all online!
Special Mention: The actress for Qin Zhaoyu. I don't know, she's not really that important of a character, but she stood out so much for me. She just exudes so much grace and I can't help but root for her character.
MUSIC:
THE MUSIC HAS HIT #PLATINUM IN MY HOUSEHOLD. In fact, I already have them on rotation in my daily playlist.
The way the songs were utilized in the scenes in the drama is perfect. It effectively adds on the immersion you feel when you watch the scene. I particularly like it whenever they use Don't Sigh in heartbreaking and angsty scenes. It never fails to make me tear up. I also want to mention Ao Ruipeng's OST in particular. They always add it in the romantic scenes and it's just so perfect and heart-fluttering!
REWATCH VALUE:
Let's just say that every time I finish watching an episode, I immediately go to XHS or Weibo to watch edits or clips. That's how rewatchable it is for me. And I won't miss a single video.
OVERALL:
This drama is just too addicting. Sure, it has some flaws. But it's so entertaining! I loved every second of it, even the ones where I go, "Huh? That kinda doesn't make sense." If you don't want to watch it for the case-solving, at least watch it for the main couple. I have never seen a CP with this good chemistry, this good writing, and this perfect in a long time. They're just so compatible and healthy in a way that is still exciting to watch. I was so crazy about them and I don't think I will forget them for a very long time.
Also: The actors are all online. And they are captured perfectly by the production team. It's a visual feast.
I often say that you really just know when the crew enjoyed doing a project when you see the end result. This is one of those projects. It's definitely going to my Top Favorite Shows List in my heart.
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