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Legendary Start, Let Down Gently ? C-Drama Rookie’s Honest Review
This is my first historical C-drama, & probably my 4th or 5th attempt at C-dramas overall. I’ve been watching dramas for nearly a decade, usually leaning toward Korean & Japanese dramas or movies. I’ve had countless recommendations—both online & from friends—to try C-dramas, but other than RESET, none really grabbed me. Legend of Zang Hai changed that after a long drought, though only until around Episode 27–32.
➥ PROS: I loved the beginning—it pulled me into a world of mystery surrounding the Gui Seal & Zang Hai’s personal mission of revenge. Watching him grow, outsmart enemies through intelligence, & form alliances under his mentor's guidance was fascinating. This buildup held strong until about Ep 31–32, as the mystery deepened around both the artifact & the true villains. I especially enjoyed the Ep 20–30 stretch with key battles. The suspense, clever characters, & the beautifully crafted world—scenic shots, costumes, direction, & music—all worked well.
➥ CONS: This might be personal, but I prefer fast-paced stories—ones that barely give you time to breathe. In that regard, this one moved painfully slow. I even paused midway to check out other dramas. That said, the pacing wasn’t a dealbreaker.
The bigger issues were (1) the romance subplot, (2) the predictable mystery antagonist, & (3) the main character acting against his established traits.
(1) Romance: Even as a subplot, it felt unnecessary & a bit forced. For political revenge stories, I prefer a romance-free arc—it just dilutes the intensity. The early banter was fine, but by the Ep 20s it got awkward enough for me to skip ahead. I liked the FL’s fighter persona & wish she’d stayed an ally—or let romance blossom after the mission. I get that it was meant to show a softer side of the ML, but it didn’t quite land for me.
(2) Mysterious Antagonist: Firstly, for me it was quite predictable early on who this person would be—so it lost points there. Secondly when the reveal was done—it is such a tried/tested formula that it did not leave me shocked/surprised—rather disappointed that for such a good drama build-up, the writers chose the usual path.
(3) ML Defying His Personality: The romance arc mainly caused this shift. He was advised (though not firmly) not to let anyone sway him. Yet he does—more than once. Despite having capable allies, he trusts the FL, reveals his identity, & even believes her mother—the Queen—who was a key suspect. If you’re on a mission this critical, shouldn’t doubt come before trust? This inconsistency, after so much character development, was hard to overlook.
➥ Overall Recommendation to Watch: MAYBE Since this is my first historical C-drama, maybe I’m being too harsh. I liked the lead actor, the performances overall, & the cinematography. But the slow pace & glaring issues dulled the impact for me. So—I wouldn’t recommend it if you share similar preferences. But if you’re into historical/political C-dramas & are okay with the slow burn & romance subplot, this might still work for you.
As I always say, drama time is precious—so choose wisely. I have shared my POV—but do read different rated reviews to see if this is your cup of tea or not—as this is an investment of 40 long episodes, so make it worth your while. Cheers!
➥ PROS: I loved the beginning—it pulled me into a world of mystery surrounding the Gui Seal & Zang Hai’s personal mission of revenge. Watching him grow, outsmart enemies through intelligence, & form alliances under his mentor's guidance was fascinating. This buildup held strong until about Ep 31–32, as the mystery deepened around both the artifact & the true villains. I especially enjoyed the Ep 20–30 stretch with key battles. The suspense, clever characters, & the beautifully crafted world—scenic shots, costumes, direction, & music—all worked well.
➥ CONS: This might be personal, but I prefer fast-paced stories—ones that barely give you time to breathe. In that regard, this one moved painfully slow. I even paused midway to check out other dramas. That said, the pacing wasn’t a dealbreaker.
The bigger issues were (1) the romance subplot, (2) the predictable mystery antagonist, & (3) the main character acting against his established traits.
(1) Romance: Even as a subplot, it felt unnecessary & a bit forced. For political revenge stories, I prefer a romance-free arc—it just dilutes the intensity. The early banter was fine, but by the Ep 20s it got awkward enough for me to skip ahead. I liked the FL’s fighter persona & wish she’d stayed an ally—or let romance blossom after the mission. I get that it was meant to show a softer side of the ML, but it didn’t quite land for me.
(2) Mysterious Antagonist: Firstly, for me it was quite predictable early on who this person would be—so it lost points there. Secondly when the reveal was done—it is such a tried/tested formula that it did not leave me shocked/surprised—rather disappointed that for such a good drama build-up, the writers chose the usual path.
(3) ML Defying His Personality: The romance arc mainly caused this shift. He was advised (though not firmly) not to let anyone sway him. Yet he does—more than once. Despite having capable allies, he trusts the FL, reveals his identity, & even believes her mother—the Queen—who was a key suspect. If you’re on a mission this critical, shouldn’t doubt come before trust? This inconsistency, after so much character development, was hard to overlook.
➥ Overall Recommendation to Watch: MAYBE Since this is my first historical C-drama, maybe I’m being too harsh. I liked the lead actor, the performances overall, & the cinematography. But the slow pace & glaring issues dulled the impact for me. So—I wouldn’t recommend it if you share similar preferences. But if you’re into historical/political C-dramas & are okay with the slow burn & romance subplot, this might still work for you.
As I always say, drama time is precious—so choose wisely. I have shared my POV—but do read different rated reviews to see if this is your cup of tea or not—as this is an investment of 40 long episodes, so make it worth your while. Cheers!
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