Oh boy, I really, REALLY regret starting this, because it's just so good! I'm only on the first couple episodes, but I can already tell Alice and A Virtual Voyage have put so much hard work into the translations, and from the comments I know that international fans really appreciate the painstaking effort they put into subtitling the series.
I've also been really glad to see how Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan are relatively more seasoned actors and actresses, and how it's my first time seeing them on screen. They have so much chemistry together, and I really do agree with the comments on how their performances are so well done. From first appearance, I also agree that I wasn't really able to see them in lead roles (and they seemed a lot younger than they really were!) But after watching this series, I've been pleasantly surprised, and Crystal Yuan is absolutely adorable and does a great job at showing the change in Chu Xuanji, while Cheng Yi is absolutely swoonworthy and has A LOT of presence as Yu Sifeng.
It's also refreshing to have another longer xianxia work (which is why I can see the comparisons to Ashes of Love and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) where the main cast goes through many tribulations together. I'm bracing my heart right now for the angst, but I'm really loving how fluffy and cute the beginning is so far!
Yes, I think these are good comments, especially to help possible viewers to make a judgement about whether this…
Totally understand what you mean! Truthfully, all reviews will have their own biases, and so when I'm writing I'm always conscious of where I may be more forgiving and where I may be more strict in my ratings.
I'm really glad that you liked this one! Completely agree with what you said about this being a pure fluffy "dog food" type of drama that you can easily turn your mind off to watch. I loved the chemistry as well, and I think being in the right mindset when going into this one will be super important.
I can't wait to see what next fluffy drama we'll pick up next. There's been so many great releases, and I agree with you that just because of the sheer volume (and differences in quality) across cdramas, it's important to just go in to shows with a completely blank slate.
This is essentially a rewriting of Go Go Squid. Sadly the second season is not going to feature most of the original…
Truthfully, the original novel that this is adapted from, Fish Playing While Trapped in a Secret Room, is a lot more substantial, melancholy, and introspective than Honey Stewed Squid, which was the novel that Go Go Squid was from. I have faith in the adaptations because one reason Mo Bao Fei Bao always hesitated in allowing her works to be made into dramas was because she refused adaptations, unless she was allowed to be the main scriptwriter.
If Go Go Squid felt more youthful and fluffy, with the pink tinge of romance, Fish Playing While Trapped in a Secret Room feels a lot more reflexive and is more focused on the transitions in the female lead's life. It's clear when Go Go Squid was made, there wasn't the expectation of a sequel. Truthfully this also wasn't the casting I had envisioned, and I can already see Mo Bao Fei Bao is making a lot of changes (just as she did in Go Go Squid) to her original story. But I'm looking forward to it a lot, since I've been a fan of many of her past novels even beyond the "Go Go Squid" universe.
?thank you spoilers.. Now i decided not to watch this... Based on what ive read,, the ending was disappointing...
Truthfully because I went into the drama knowing about the issues with the ending, I was a lot more prepared, and therefore I think my enjoyment was a little higher because I was aware of the problems with the last episode. It's a shame because the actual plot, characters, length of the drama, and the acting are actually quite well done, and I think if they had changed some things with the ending, this drama would be a lot more higher rated. That being said, I suppose the drama really suits people who have a more niche taste, because I don't think that (in a generally fluffy and shorter historical drama) an ending like this has been done yet.
Beautifully written :)I appreciate the detailed analysis, though I don't fully share the same sentiment. But I…
Completely understand! Hopefully my review is there to provide some information on what to expect, but is definitely not exhaustive or a comprehensive overview of the show. I'm glad that there are viewers who really enjoyed this one, and appreciate you reading my review!
If you're okay with watching Korean dramas, I'd highly recommend you watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal. The conflict…
No problem, thank you for your kind words! And also I understand switching to another type of drama in the meantime as well. Hopefully your next drama watch is a good one ~
I was hoping Wen Xi develop from a reluctant scholar into an advocate for equality for all. Instead she becomes…
If you're okay with watching Korean dramas, I'd highly recommend you watch Sungkyunkwan Scandal. The conflict of women going to school is very well handled in the Korean one, and there are actual material steps taken in the drama to address this issue. Not to mention that these problems are not only undertaken by the main cast, but also by the rest of the students at the academy. The Korean drama wrapped up a lot of ends while maintaining the FL's commitment to her studies and her own goals, and I would really give that one a chance if this one left you feeling unsatisfied.
The Kdrama was also an "idol drama" at the time, since the rest of the side cast were relatively unknown during that period. But they did a lot of great things with the script that added nuance and depth to the plot, and it's something I missed a lot when I was watching this adaptation.
Omg its like legend of yunxi reunion. I love kiki since shes my bias in SNH and she also slayed her role in yunxi
I'm soooo excited about Kiki, loved her so much after watching Youth With You and had no idea that she was also in Legend of Yunxi as well. Can't wait to see her performance and I hope she has her own love line in this drama.
I heard this was adapted from a BL drama but they changed the male lead to a female since there is a ban on homosexuality…
I'm pretty surprised because last I heard Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms/Eternal Love was also plagiarized from Peach Blossom Debt? I wouldn't be surprised if they had plagiarized it again, because the recycling of storylines is not uncommon, but the author must be feeling quite terrible if this is truly the case.
I love Merxat so much and it makes me sad that he’s not leading. He’s such a great actor and they gave the…
The first lead role Merxat received was in For Married Doctress, and without spoiling too much, it's not exactly an ending that I was satisfied with. Merxat is so great and has so much range, and I'm disappointed that he doesn't get placed into more lead roles - especially since he's demonstrated again and again just how versatile he is as an actor.
Don't be surprise about kissing scenes.All jujingyi drama don't really have daring kisses.If you notice in LOY…
The only other Ju Jingyi drama I've seen is Legend of Yunxi (but I remember dropping that so I never made it to the ending). Arsenal Military Academy doesn't have a kiss scene either, but the chemistry was so well done that I still felt satisfied. I'm disappointed overall, but if this is the case that's quite sad, especially since I think taking on more projects is evidence of Ju Jingyi's abilities as an actress. And not having romantic scenes in a romance drama is quite ironic, which is why I think I was quite disappointed with how the lovelines were handled in this drama.
My favorite scene in the SS original was on the mountain by the river where, after ML has his initial shock of…
It's pretty disappointing, to be honest, and I think your comments are pretty much spot on. One of the things I loved about the original Korean drama was how it took the time to delve into the issues that it brought up. The character for Lei Ao experienced serious consequences for his vigilante justice, while the FL in the Korean drama had to face the fact that she had disguised herself as a male with serious ramifications. I remember being very bored sometimes watching this one, which I never experienced in the Korean drama (I remember skipping the archery scenes in this drama, while in the Korean version I couldn't stop watching.) I'm pretty disappointed to be honest, and all in all the drama has left me with a rather upsetting aftertaste.
Oh my god, what happened to the ending (more like the last 8 episodes of this series?)
I think the main issue with this adaptation is that despite the great production value, and some awesome performances (especially by Wang Ruichang and Bi Wenjun) ironically the fact that Wen Xi is actually a girl doesn't really seem to matter. I remember this being a huge point of tension in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, where you constantly felt worried about her disguise being uncovered. And while this drama plays with that idea, and there are instances in which gender is important to the broader story, the anticlimatic resolution regarding this point in the last stretch is baffling. I'm pretty disappointed to be honest about the handling of the last section of the drama, which suddenly went into the political scheming territory and seemed to almost not even relate to the academy aspect. All I remember is skipping all of the latter parts of the show and being unsatisfied with the ending, even though this version had a longer episode length for the story.
Ironically, I guess even the writers felt that the chemistry between Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi wasn't all that great, so they didn't bother with a kiss scene. I may be sounding off as harsh, but considering how well-paced Sungkyunkwan Scandal was, and how this drama had all of the elements to be really great, I have to say that the last parts of the drama left a bitter aftertaste that overpowers the beginning.
I think you should definitely give it a try! I just wrote a few of my thoughts after finishing it in a comment…
I just read your comments! They were SUPER helpful, and I think it's helped me a lot to manage my expectations when getting into this one. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it, and I have a feeling that if I go in with no/low expectations, I may really like this one!
And thank you for reading my reviews ^^ I'm glad to have read yours for this drama, and have put it on my watchlist for when it's subbed!
Same. I love this drama so much. I am sad it's not getting the level of appreciation it deserves. Do you know…
I watch A LOT of cdramas instead of kdramas, because they are a lot lighter, but the tradeoff is that sometimes the fluffier romantic ones can also be less introspective. For good youth campus dramas with a "friends to lovers" relationship, I'd probably recommend The Best of You In My Mind (2020), Skate Into Love (2018), or Le Coup the Foudre (2020).
For a doting and nice ML, the historical drama The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020), and the modern-day drama Intense Love (2020) both have quite popular followings. I couldn't finish these because I didn't like the ML that much, but for a kinder male lead who is very wholesome and unproblematic, these would probably suit your tastes.
The one drama which is a lot older and a bit more melodrama is definitely Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy (2010) starring Han Hyojoo and Lee Seung Gi. Both the ML and FL work together as enemies to lovers, and start from the being at the bottom, to working hard and achieving their goals.
Something I think that really works about this drama is that it has a nice ML, except my issue is that sometimes this can be boring, especially when we see the ML continuously (and unrealistically) dote on the FL as if he is a perfect person. In this drama, this isn't the case, which is what I really appreciate. Honestly I really love how both the ML & FL call each other out when they think the other is doing something wrong, support each other during times of hardship, and empathize with each other's struggles.
"I don't want you to misunderstand," "I know that you don't want to take the easy route," and "I know that's not what you would do." While this drama is hilarious and has so much comedy, there are also so many of these scenes where you just see how wholesome the relationship is between Gong Myung and Se Ra. Both are on each other's side, but also are willing to challenge each other for the sake of their shared values and beliefs. Most importantly, issues don't get dragged. Both of them confront their feelings and their problems head on, and straightforwardly communicate with each other.
I therefore think one of my all time favourite lines in this show is when Se Ra says (paraphrased) "you protect/keep my heart in check, and I'll protect/keep your heart in check as well." Both Gong Myung and Se Ra look after each other's hearts, but also work together to make sure both are doing their best to stick to their own morals, even when it has consequences on themselves. I just love how naturally the relationship between them develops, and I think the romantic progression is excellently done in this drama. This has definitely been one of my favourite and most refreshing watches this year, and I'm going to be so sad as we near the last couple of episodes because they have slowly become one of my favourite drama couples.
I think in general, and not just with this drama, discard all expectations out the window. Try to forget and ignore…
Sounds good to me, I think this is great advice especially when it comes to picking up a drama. Agree that as all eps will be out, I'm really excited to be able to binge this one. Thanks so much for your comments!
I've also been really glad to see how Cheng Yi and Crystal Yuan are relatively more seasoned actors and actresses, and how it's my first time seeing them on screen. They have so much chemistry together, and I really do agree with the comments on how their performances are so well done. From first appearance, I also agree that I wasn't really able to see them in lead roles (and they seemed a lot younger than they really were!) But after watching this series, I've been pleasantly surprised, and Crystal Yuan is absolutely adorable and does a great job at showing the change in Chu Xuanji, while Cheng Yi is absolutely swoonworthy and has A LOT of presence as Yu Sifeng.
It's also refreshing to have another longer xianxia work (which is why I can see the comparisons to Ashes of Love and Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms) where the main cast goes through many tribulations together. I'm bracing my heart right now for the angst, but I'm really loving how fluffy and cute the beginning is so far!
I'm really glad that you liked this one! Completely agree with what you said about this being a pure fluffy "dog food" type of drama that you can easily turn your mind off to watch. I loved the chemistry as well, and I think being in the right mindset when going into this one will be super important.
I can't wait to see what next fluffy drama we'll pick up next. There's been so many great releases, and I agree with you that just because of the sheer volume (and differences in quality) across cdramas, it's important to just go in to shows with a completely blank slate.
If Go Go Squid felt more youthful and fluffy, with the pink tinge of romance, Fish Playing While Trapped in a Secret Room feels a lot more reflexive and is more focused on the transitions in the female lead's life. It's clear when Go Go Squid was made, there wasn't the expectation of a sequel. Truthfully this also wasn't the casting I had envisioned, and I can already see Mo Bao Fei Bao is making a lot of changes (just as she did in Go Go Squid) to her original story. But I'm looking forward to it a lot, since I've been a fan of many of her past novels even beyond the "Go Go Squid" universe.
The Kdrama was also an "idol drama" at the time, since the rest of the side cast were relatively unknown during that period. But they did a lot of great things with the script that added nuance and depth to the plot, and it's something I missed a lot when I was watching this adaptation.
I think the main issue with this adaptation is that despite the great production value, and some awesome performances (especially by Wang Ruichang and Bi Wenjun) ironically the fact that Wen Xi is actually a girl doesn't really seem to matter. I remember this being a huge point of tension in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, where you constantly felt worried about her disguise being uncovered. And while this drama plays with that idea, and there are instances in which gender is important to the broader story, the anticlimatic resolution regarding this point in the last stretch is baffling. I'm pretty disappointed to be honest about the handling of the last section of the drama, which suddenly went into the political scheming territory and seemed to almost not even relate to the academy aspect. All I remember is skipping all of the latter parts of the show and being unsatisfied with the ending, even though this version had a longer episode length for the story.
Ironically, I guess even the writers felt that the chemistry between Song Weilong and Ju Jingyi wasn't all that great, so they didn't bother with a kiss scene. I may be sounding off as harsh, but considering how well-paced Sungkyunkwan Scandal was, and how this drama had all of the elements to be really great, I have to say that the last parts of the drama left a bitter aftertaste that overpowers the beginning.
And thank you for reading my reviews ^^ I'm glad to have read yours for this drama, and have put it on my watchlist for when it's subbed!
For a doting and nice ML, the historical drama The Romance of Tiger and Rose (2020), and the modern-day drama Intense Love (2020) both have quite popular followings. I couldn't finish these because I didn't like the ML that much, but for a kinder male lead who is very wholesome and unproblematic, these would probably suit your tastes.
The one drama which is a lot older and a bit more melodrama is definitely Shining Inheritance/Brilliant Legacy (2010) starring Han Hyojoo and Lee Seung Gi. Both the ML and FL work together as enemies to lovers, and start from the being at the bottom, to working hard and achieving their goals.
"I don't want you to misunderstand," "I know that you don't want to take the easy route," and "I know that's not what you would do." While this drama is hilarious and has so much comedy, there are also so many of these scenes where you just see how wholesome the relationship is between Gong Myung and Se Ra. Both are on each other's side, but also are willing to challenge each other for the sake of their shared values and beliefs. Most importantly, issues don't get dragged. Both of them confront their feelings and their problems head on, and straightforwardly communicate with each other.
I therefore think one of my all time favourite lines in this show is when Se Ra says (paraphrased) "you protect/keep my heart in check, and I'll protect/keep your heart in check as well." Both Gong Myung and Se Ra look after each other's hearts, but also work together to make sure both are doing their best to stick to their own morals, even when it has consequences on themselves. I just love how naturally the relationship between them develops, and I think the romantic progression is excellently done in this drama. This has definitely been one of my favourite and most refreshing watches this year, and I'm going to be so sad as we near the last couple of episodes because they have slowly become one of my favourite drama couples.