Pretty good. I actually dont believe how much I actually enjoy it. They show the angst first and later tell us the story on how the 2 leads met and fall in love. I think its a pretty solid start. The chess game is pretty apparent and easy to read now but I think there must be more layers to it.
Watched all the 4 episodes and my goodness I need to get used to this fast paced -- mini drama editing. I really not used to it but kinda liking it as well since everything just moved so damn fast. By episode 4, we are back to present time and I think the rest of the leads' relationship and how it blossomed to love will be revealed later bits by bits like how he gifted her the hairpin, the scene where she hugs him tightly or the fireworks scene and etc..
I like how they set up everything in the first episode. We know he is a puppet king, we know who is the chess master and we know how our FL is the pawn for everyone in the drama. I enjoy the scheming but I wish there are more mysteries in the drama. I mean, everytime any character made an appearance, I knew exactly who they are, I think keeping a bit mystery in the drama would make it more compelling. But alas, there are probably more layers in the overall schemes thats why they are more generous to us now with the information. But I think everything that moves right now is totally in line with the move planned by Cang Cang's Dad. I think Xiao Huan, despite being clever is 2 or 3 step below the mastermind as per now. He should have known that killing Cang Cang's Shifu is all part of the bigger plan of Cang Cang's Dad. He probably aware of it but go ahead and kill him anyway. And we are being presented with one secret which is what did the Shifu meant by 'Emperor's Promise'.
But I really like the addition of the 9th Prince since we know he is not the typical bad guy. I dont think he is a bad guy at all. He probably will join Xiao Huan later but I like the fact that he knew his brother just by looking at his back lol. And he also not listening to his mother or willing to be anyone's pawn or inside anyone's game but he did have an objective -- we just need to know what it is since I dont think throne is his goal.
Ohh just want to add that I like how they are making Xiao Huan kind of twisted a bit in the head. I mean, the way he just manipulated Cang Cang to do all the things willingly including begging to marry him is pretty interesting. And he just show the gift of the 2 birds from the general and she willingly invite him to her house when she initially reluctant, since she understood what he meant perfectly. I think he needs to tone down with the mind games -- like the finger gift is pretty uncalled for or else she will keep misunderstand him. 😬
And I dont remember the last time I see RJL in an idol drama focused glorified lens. Made me giggle a bit everytime such scenes happened lol.
I don't know if l am correct or not but what l have noticed is that both the male leads had opposite hairstyle…
Yeah, I felt the same. ❤️ I need my dramas to be well written and his dramas does it for me. Thats why I especially struggling to find something I like this year and ended up rewatching Demon Hunter's Romance (lol) instead and watch other serious dramas (like The Narcotic Operation) since lots of idol dramas are just weak scriptwise and it glares like sore thumb for me. I hope this draught will end soon. Now I'm watching Kdramas to change air.
I don't know if l am correct or not but what l have noticed is that both the male leads had opposite hairstyle…
Amazing! Thats definitely one way to look at it. And I think you are right. They always have hairstyles opposite of one another which kind of imply they are on opposite sites. Nice for you to realize that. :D
Ohh thats so sweet of you to say that! ❤️ I hope RJL keeps choosing amazing dramas such as this so I can write more reviews discussing the details in his scripts. Its always one of the most thing I look forward to when I watch his dramas -- it always full of depth and nuances and not to mention that sometimes very thought provoking as well.
I don't know if l am correct or not but what l have noticed is that both the male leads had opposite hairstyle…
Hi! Its nice to see you here as well. 😀
Yeah, I did notice the hairstyles as well but I think they just separate it between official and non-official duties. Like Wei Zhou wore both hairstyles in the Capital -- hair down during his non-court days while his hair up at court. While Pai Yan only let his hair down at Nanling which is his hometown. I personally think it didnt mean anything but if you see it as something different, I'm interested to know your thoughts.
Wow! I love your review. I am almost half way through the drama. I watched it as I love Ren Jia Lun and think…
Thank you. 🤗 Yes, I hope you notice all the small details in the scripts since its all clues to the whole story. Even the jersey's number or cars' plate numbers are all served as hints to us.
And yes, Ren Jialun indeed always picked great projects so his dramas are usually full of layers and nuances in the scripts. I always feel complete satisfaction every time I finished his dramas since they are usually very well written like this drama. ❤️
So, the 2FL is his wife and the kid is his son in the drama? Is this confirmed?So, him and the FL is strictly…
Yes, Li Chun is in Joy of Life as Si Lili. She is awesome in that role -- a spy with a mission. She has one scene with Zhang Ruoyun in a prison where it was really nerve-wrecking. I highly recommend the drama if you havent watch it yet. Easily my most favorite drama in any language. One of rare dramas that I rated 10/10. The script is simply brilliant.
This is too cute! The kid really cant let go of him. He will hug him or constantly holding his hands. ❤️❤️❤️
I know. He loves kids and kids love him. There is the way he handle them that makes you know that he really care. He will be busy talking to all the crews but he made sure he holds Andy's hand so he wont feel neglected amidst all the adults. And he will talk to him while looking at him in the eyes. And when Andy hugs him, no matter how busy he is, he will naturally hugs him back. Kids know when someone pay attention to them and naturally will cling to them. You cant fake that kind of bond.
And yeah him and that lil girl. I have many gif of them together. ❤️
This is too cute! The kid really cant let go of him. He will hug him or constantly holding his hands. ❤️❤️❤️
I know! They are inseparable. Like they will hold hands, then went into the bus, then come out from the bus, they will hold hands again. How cute is this lol?!!
I wonder if he is like this to his own son. He seemed like a really wonderful father.
So, the 2FL is his wife and the kid is his son in the drama? Is this confirmed?So, him and the FL is strictly…
2 kids? That wonderful. A girl is another one?
Yes, I do watch the BTS and I thought the 2FL is like Orphan House owner and the kid is one of the orphans lol. I thought that way since the last 3 months. 🤣
This makes me happy since during the BTS, I can feel more chemistry between him and the 2FL and it turned out because they are playing husband and wife. Im happy since I like the actress who play the 2FL -- she is Si Lili from Joy of Life.
I'm so excited. You have no idea. 😂 Out of all his unreleased dramas, I'm most excited with this one since the writer is an award winning writer. So this news just makes me even more excited.
@tsuyoi_hikari Thank you for this beautiful review. The way you summarised the drama in reddit made me to watch…
Hi! Its nice seeing you around here as well. 🙂☂️
I'm so glad my summary of the drama made you want to watch it. I just adore this drama so much for the healing script and how creative it is. It made me think for a very long time about some of the things that happened in this drama even after I have finished it. And yes, thats my interpretation of the ending as well since all the hints and clues supported that.
About whether Shan Shan knew about Jia Zhen's toxic behaviors, I would say he didn't know from the beginning -- just like in his 'Pursuit' script, we don't know who is the mastermind initially. However, he can sense the cracks starting when we see him waiting for Jia Zhen while he is entertaining all the guests and later that night, we saw Shan Shan watching Leslie's movie 'A Better Tomorrow' -- a story about 2 brothers which kind of reflect his relationship with Jia Zhen. Then afterwards, he can sense it slowly more and more with how many people around him highlighting it to him on how toxic Jia Zhen is. So, he incorporated it in his 'Pursuit' script sub-consciously about Jia Zhen being the true mastermind. The betrayal is huge thing for him, since he loves Jia Zhen very much -- he is one of the reasons Shan Shan is a sunshine despite his tragic past -- Jia Zhen is part of the reason why Shan Shan is as carefree and happy as he is. That's why he didn't pursue to sue him at all -- he even give him credit for the writing, money and etc -- because he still treasures the relationship. That's is why what Mr. Cao said about the stage and how it is easy to go to the dark side is so powerful since once you cross over, you cant really go back to how things were. Shan Shan chose not to go to the dark side and remains he higher person at the end.
This is also highlight how professional is Liu Xia. Usually, people in toxic relationship did not see the relationship as the outside people see them because they are so used of these small abuses. That is why a lot of people in abusive relationship keeps staying in these abusive relationships for decades, since they refused to admit and leave. That's why if you notice all Liu Xia did is let Shan Shan see, how wrong is Jia Zhen. She didnt saya Jia Zhen is an evil guy and Shan Shan should distance himself from him but her approach is to let Shan Shan see how Jia Zhan really is slowly. That's why she will ask him 'Is this normal?' 'Is your brother always do this to you?' and giving advises on how to mend the relationship rather than asking Shan Shan to cut Jia Zhen off from his life. Had she do this to Shan Shan, Shan Shan will cut Liu Xia instead since Jia Zhen is like family to him. Thus, Liu Xia's actions totally matched the behaviours of a professional psychologist and the way she approach this matter makes Shan Shan see who Jia Zhen truly is on his own -- his own time and his own terms. So, you can say that sub-consciously, he always knew the Jia Zhen is bad, that's why we can see it slowly in his 'Pursuit' script as we watched the drama that his sub-conscious always reflected in his scripts -- no matter how small and subtle it is.
this director doesnt have the best track record for good satisfying happy endings tho.. he directed oao, remember…
One & Only's tragic ending follows the novel and original script by the writer. One & Only had that ending since the original story is Forever & Ever where the leads meet again in modern world after their tragic separation in the past. The original novel One Life, One Incarnation: Beautiful Bones is Forever & Ever. When they did the drama, they just expand One & Only to be their own drama (in the novel, its only parts that tell us their past) -- but both dramas are written by the original Novel Writer; Mo Bao Fei Bao. Both dramas are faithful to her original works as she is the one who wrote both dramas.
I like how they set up everything in the first episode. We know he is a puppet king, we know who is the chess master and we know how our FL is the pawn for everyone in the drama. I enjoy the scheming but I wish there are more mysteries in the drama. I mean, everytime any character made an appearance, I knew exactly who they are, I think keeping a bit mystery in the drama would make it more compelling. But alas, there are probably more layers in the overall schemes thats why they are more generous to us now with the information. But I think everything that moves right now is totally in line with the move planned by Cang Cang's Dad. I think Xiao Huan, despite being clever is 2 or 3 step below the mastermind as per now. He should have known that killing Cang Cang's Shifu is all part of the bigger plan of Cang Cang's Dad. He probably aware of it but go ahead and kill him anyway. And we are being presented with one secret which is what did the Shifu meant by 'Emperor's Promise'.
But I really like the addition of the 9th Prince since we know he is not the typical bad guy. I dont think he is a bad guy at all. He probably will join Xiao Huan later but I like the fact that he knew his brother just by looking at his back lol. And he also not listening to his mother or willing to be anyone's pawn or inside anyone's game but he did have an objective -- we just need to know what it is since I dont think throne is his goal.
Ohh just want to add that I like how they are making Xiao Huan kind of twisted a bit in the head. I mean, the way he just manipulated Cang Cang to do all the things willingly including begging to marry him is pretty interesting. And he just show the gift of the 2 birds from the general and she willingly invite him to her house when she initially reluctant, since she understood what he meant perfectly. I think he needs to tone down with the mind games -- like the finger gift is pretty uncalled for or else she will keep misunderstand him. 😬
And I dont remember the last time I see RJL in an idol drama focused glorified lens. Made me giggle a bit everytime such scenes happened lol.
Ohh thats so sweet of you to say that! ❤️ I hope RJL keeps choosing amazing dramas such as this so I can write more reviews discussing the details in his scripts. Its always one of the most thing I look forward to when I watch his dramas -- it always full of depth and nuances and not to mention that sometimes very thought provoking as well.
Yeah, I did notice the hairstyles as well but I think they just separate it between official and non-official duties. Like Wei Zhou wore both hairstyles in the Capital -- hair down during his non-court days while his hair up at court. While Pai Yan only let his hair down at Nanling which is his hometown. I personally think it didnt mean anything but if you see it as something different, I'm interested to know your thoughts.
And yes, Ren Jialun indeed always picked great projects so his dramas are usually full of layers and nuances in the scripts. I always feel complete satisfaction every time I finished his dramas since they are usually very well written like this drama. ❤️
And yeah him and that lil girl. I have many gif of them together. ❤️
I wonder if he is like this to his own son. He seemed like a really wonderful father.
Yes, I do watch the BTS and I thought the 2FL is like Orphan House owner and the kid is one of the orphans lol. I thought that way since the last 3 months. 🤣
This makes me happy since during the BTS, I can feel more chemistry between him and the 2FL and it turned out because they are playing husband and wife. Im happy since I like the actress who play the 2FL -- she is Si Lili from Joy of Life.
I'm so excited. You have no idea. 😂 Out of all his unreleased dramas, I'm most excited with this one since the writer is an award winning writer. So this news just makes me even more excited.
Thank you! :D
So, him and the FL is strictly only co-workers?
This is such a wonderful news. I always wanted to watch him in a father's role. ❤️
Like all his other dramas, I think the love relationship in this drama gonna be a supportive and a healing one as well.
I'm so glad my summary of the drama made you want to watch it. I just adore this drama so much for the healing script and how creative it is. It made me think for a very long time about some of the things that happened in this drama even after I have finished it. And yes, thats my interpretation of the ending as well since all the hints and clues supported that.
About whether Shan Shan knew about Jia Zhen's toxic behaviors, I would say he didn't know from the beginning -- just like in his 'Pursuit' script, we don't know who is the mastermind initially. However, he can sense the cracks starting when we see him waiting for Jia Zhen while he is entertaining all the guests and later that night, we saw Shan Shan watching Leslie's movie 'A Better Tomorrow' -- a story about 2 brothers which kind of reflect his relationship with Jia Zhen. Then afterwards, he can sense it slowly more and more with how many people around him highlighting it to him on how toxic Jia Zhen is. So, he incorporated it in his 'Pursuit' script sub-consciously about Jia Zhen being the true mastermind. The betrayal is huge thing for him, since he loves Jia Zhen very much -- he is one of the reasons Shan Shan is a sunshine despite his tragic past -- Jia Zhen is part of the reason why Shan Shan is as carefree and happy as he is. That's why he didn't pursue to sue him at all -- he even give him credit for the writing, money and etc -- because he still treasures the relationship. That's is why what Mr. Cao said about the stage and how it is easy to go to the dark side is so powerful since once you cross over, you cant really go back to how things were. Shan Shan chose not to go to the dark side and remains he higher person at the end.
This is also highlight how professional is Liu Xia. Usually, people in toxic relationship did not see the relationship as the outside people see them because they are so used of these small abuses. That is why a lot of people in abusive relationship keeps staying in these abusive relationships for decades, since they refused to admit and leave. That's why if you notice all Liu Xia did is let Shan Shan see, how wrong is Jia Zhen. She didnt saya Jia Zhen is an evil guy and Shan Shan should distance himself from him but her approach is to let Shan Shan see how Jia Zhan really is slowly. That's why she will ask him 'Is this normal?' 'Is your brother always do this to you?' and giving advises on how to mend the relationship rather than asking Shan Shan to cut Jia Zhen off from his life. Had she do this to Shan Shan, Shan Shan will cut Liu Xia instead since Jia Zhen is like family to him. Thus, Liu Xia's actions totally matched the behaviours of a professional psychologist and the way she approach this matter makes Shan Shan see who Jia Zhen truly is on his own -- his own time and his own terms. So, you can say that sub-consciously, he always knew the Jia Zhen is bad, that's why we can see it slowly in his 'Pursuit' script as we watched the drama that his sub-conscious always reflected in his scripts -- no matter how small and subtle it is.
And thank you so much for your kind words. 🤗🤗🤗