Better than many
This review is mostly for my own personal tastes. If you are curious, you can look over the GOOD list for some highlights, but the BAD list is very much focused on what doesn't suit *my personal* tastes, rather than actually being bad.
The high level overview is that this is a really well done show, but I personally am not a big fan of intrigue/politics/power dynamics and those things are very much the center of this drama. For me, the romance is not well done and the slice of life moments are weak, which means I probably won't finish it.
THE GOOD:
The FL absolutely kills in this. If she was more centered in this drama, I would have been in love with it.
The cinematography is very strong. Many things are done very well, especially the action. And as a bonus, it seems like they were willing to be a bit artistic and add some personal style, so things are not just "standard" the way every other drama directs/edits things. Love to see productions that are innovating.
The action is very well done. Especially the FL, has got to be the most convincing action sequences I've ever seen from an FL. As well as being just dynamic and engaging choreography/camerawork. For a taste of that, you can simply watch the first 10 minutes. It is immediately intense and captivating. The rest of the show doesn't quite get that intense again, but still some cool scenes.
The costuming is gorgeous. Bold colors and elaborate detailing are all a joy to look at. Each character gets distinct and thought out color palettes in their wardrobes, just A+.
Some excellent supporting actors. Especially the doctor and the ML's right-hand man. I hope they are both being noticed, because the whole time I am thinking they should be leading actors, they are that vibrant.
THE BAD:
For me, it is just really frustrating to keep seeing the same "I'm bad and actively cruel to the FL" Beauty and the Beast tropes, especially when they are not well supported with motivations.
That dynamic is doubled down with another tired amnesia trope. So in addition to abusive behaviors we will get endless gaslighting. Just exhausting writing choices.
It is such a common plot at this point that there must be an audience that likes this, but just how long do you have to watch a show for anyone's motivations to be clear? 10eps 20eps? It is way too long that you ask me to "just sit through it" for some distant payoff, that in my experience is rarely actually that profound. Maybe this one is different, but I will probably never get far enough to find out.
Did I mention unnecessary abuse and gaslighting? Sure, well, lets add to that pile that the "strong FL" (Who the FL portrays very well) is just continuously declawed by the writing. So far she is just a victim over and over again, and even when she does have a heroic moment, she will still fail at the last moment so the ML can swoop in and take all the glory. Just very heavy-handed heteronormative writing, despite centering on "women can do anything even be a general". If you want to write a damsel story, just write a damsel? Setting up the FL as a strong and independent person and literally cutting her ability to fight and making her a "happy prisoner" is actually infuriating.
Okay that is probably enough to remind me of my general feelings, should I ever try to come back to watch more of this. There is also just a lot of weak writing and convenient writing (forced misunderstandings, characters doing things for no reason other than to cycle back to another pass of "oh he's a bad boy, but not REALLY", etc) But I don't think I need to go through all of that. Just stuff that is annoying if you aren't into the specific sub-genre.
Maybe I will be back, because the FL is really cool and I am still a bit hopeful that the doctor gets a more detailed arc. But probably not, unless I want something in the background that I can ignore 85% of.
The high level overview is that this is a really well done show, but I personally am not a big fan of intrigue/politics/power dynamics and those things are very much the center of this drama. For me, the romance is not well done and the slice of life moments are weak, which means I probably won't finish it.
THE GOOD:
The FL absolutely kills in this. If she was more centered in this drama, I would have been in love with it.
The cinematography is very strong. Many things are done very well, especially the action. And as a bonus, it seems like they were willing to be a bit artistic and add some personal style, so things are not just "standard" the way every other drama directs/edits things. Love to see productions that are innovating.
The action is very well done. Especially the FL, has got to be the most convincing action sequences I've ever seen from an FL. As well as being just dynamic and engaging choreography/camerawork. For a taste of that, you can simply watch the first 10 minutes. It is immediately intense and captivating. The rest of the show doesn't quite get that intense again, but still some cool scenes.
The costuming is gorgeous. Bold colors and elaborate detailing are all a joy to look at. Each character gets distinct and thought out color palettes in their wardrobes, just A+.
Some excellent supporting actors. Especially the doctor and the ML's right-hand man. I hope they are both being noticed, because the whole time I am thinking they should be leading actors, they are that vibrant.
THE BAD:
For me, it is just really frustrating to keep seeing the same "I'm bad and actively cruel to the FL" Beauty and the Beast tropes, especially when they are not well supported with motivations.
That dynamic is doubled down with another tired amnesia trope. So in addition to abusive behaviors we will get endless gaslighting. Just exhausting writing choices.
It is such a common plot at this point that there must be an audience that likes this, but just how long do you have to watch a show for anyone's motivations to be clear? 10eps 20eps? It is way too long that you ask me to "just sit through it" for some distant payoff, that in my experience is rarely actually that profound. Maybe this one is different, but I will probably never get far enough to find out.
Did I mention unnecessary abuse and gaslighting? Sure, well, lets add to that pile that the "strong FL" (Who the FL portrays very well) is just continuously declawed by the writing. So far she is just a victim over and over again, and even when she does have a heroic moment, she will still fail at the last moment so the ML can swoop in and take all the glory. Just very heavy-handed heteronormative writing, despite centering on "women can do anything even be a general". If you want to write a damsel story, just write a damsel? Setting up the FL as a strong and independent person and literally cutting her ability to fight and making her a "happy prisoner" is actually infuriating.
Okay that is probably enough to remind me of my general feelings, should I ever try to come back to watch more of this. There is also just a lot of weak writing and convenient writing (forced misunderstandings, characters doing things for no reason other than to cycle back to another pass of "oh he's a bad boy, but not REALLY", etc) But I don't think I need to go through all of that. Just stuff that is annoying if you aren't into the specific sub-genre.
Maybe I will be back, because the FL is really cool and I am still a bit hopeful that the doctor gets a more detailed arc. But probably not, unless I want something in the background that I can ignore 85% of.
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