ryoato

The hype around this drama caught around my ankles and dragged me in... unfortunately I can't say any of that was worth it. Promotions insist grit, blood, perseverance and instead it is pretty faces and ease. Let me explain.

I haven't watched much, and am wondering why that is. I know this drama isn't getting any better, and that's because the first few episodes were really not that admirable. A first episode of a drama, the first handful even, are supposed to hook. Usually with Chinese Dramas they push the budget and fine tune things so they are near perfect to watch. Some dramas have catfished me with this tactic, here.. it is honestly a bit appalling how little it did to hook.

With the premiere, the first episodes did what they should and shouldn't. What's important is to introduce characters, their story, what the goal is or should be... even with stories with multiple arcs- just give something. Here that is done, but it is incredibly rushed. The Female General is already the female general, and that is taken away. The way that is taken away from her is so rushed and happens in one episode, less than even. So with that, it has the audience distant. As a viewer, I'm not pulled into her story. Her motivation makes sense, but I find it bland. She had her master of hers revive her when she was literally pushed off a cliff. So she didn't die- and that makes me thinking that she can't die. Anything that happens to her in the story has no weight because of this setup. A lead who survives getting stabbed, falling from a cliff, etc.. right within the first half hour?! She gets attacked by wolves later and acts like she is dying, but as a viewer it is just wasting my time because I know she isn't. I can't say enough how bad of a decision it was to just revive this girl instead of the rebirth..

And I know that rebirth with chinese dramas can't be done these days. Still. There are ways to have a 'comeback' without it being handed on a silver platter. Her adversities do little to hurt her, and she wants to reclaim her place as general. Why though? Why was that so great for her? Why did she like it? Show this somewhere in the drama with storytelling... the flashbacks aren't even put into the story thoughtfully, it is just a little scene at the beginning. It is becoming aparent how little this drama is trying. Is it rushed? I don't know. I can't even say that the FL is looking for vengeance because she isn't, there is no fire in her eyes.. she isn't intense at all.

I don't want to make this too long but with that all being said. This drama isn't that good. It is very basic. The only thing it has that is cool is the Female General. Which is very very hard to buy into with all the plot holes. I see everything that is going to happen so I don't feel the need to watch. What is cool is the promotions and the idea, the execution is not. The chemistry is not, the acting is not, the editing it not, all of it is just very surface level. What you see isn't even what you get, which is disappointing.

It is too bad. I am too tired to explain more of why I feel this way towards the drama, but there's a lot to it... it's full of tropes and cheap writing that makes me feel stupid for watching imsosorry...