vchanbcchs

Despite all the bitching I'm about to do, I actually liked this story. The chemistry between the leads was amazing, and the ML's transformation from an arrogant, power-hungry asshole into an obsessive, lovesick, yearning husband was genuinely swoon-worthy. Unfortunately, I had a few problems. Okay, a LOT of problems.

Let's start with the ML. This man was a walking red flag factory in the beginning. He's wealthy, powerful, arrogant, and shamelessly uses his family's influence to bully anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. Be it the poor or the rich, everyone are practically ants beneath his feet, and he takes whatever he wants because why the fuck not? Even the FL was just another toy to him. He literally tells her that once he's tired of playing with her, he'll naturally let her go. SIR?!

He's not your typical green-flag Chinese drama ML. He's a dark romance ML, and if you're accustomed to reading about toxic, possessive men, he's luke-warm toxic at best. If not, you might need to take a few deep breaths.

What I appreciated, though, was that he actually had character development. Going to war forces him to confront his own mortality. He realizes that he's not invincible and that the ordinary soldiers serving under him are just as valuable as he is. Some even sacrifice their lives to save his. He comes out of that experience a better leader and, gradually, a better person. Not a saint, mind you, but progress!

The FL, unfortunately, is where my patience went to die.

I don't dislike her because she's kind or morally upright. I dislike that she seems to believe her moral convictions should be the compass for everyone else. There's a difference between having principles and believing you're incapable of being wrong. This woman has the survival instincts of a rock and the self-righteousness of a saint.

She constantly puts herself in situations that require rescuing, makes questionable decisions, and somehow the ML is always responsible for cleaning up the mess. When the SML is exposed as a traitor, she demands that the ML let him go. Ma'am, HELLO? He's a traitor! There are military, legal, and political consequences here!

And that's my biggest issue with her: moral righteousness is a privilege, and not everyone can afford to make decisions based on idealistic principles. The ML is hardly innocent, but at least the story makes him confront his worldview. The FL suffers tremendously, but suffering isn't the same as character development.

The amnesia storyline was particularly interesting. The ML lies to her to keep her by his side, and even though he's become more tender, you can practically feel his old unhinged self vibrating underneath whenever she mentions leaving. Bravo to the actor because you can feel the psycho vibes vibrating underneath his skin--that man was still one inconvenience away from locking her up again.

Eventually, she chooses him when she learns the truth but then she regains her memories, and runs away because she suspects he murdered her mother. Despite everyone telling her otherwise, she refuses to listen until the actual murderer confesses. GIRL. You already chose this man as your husband! Where is the critical thinking?

And does the ML demand accountability? No. He just accepts her. Of course he does. Yearning husband duties never end.

Then the psycho SML returns, imprisons her while she's pregnant with the ML's child, and the ML believes she's dead. They're separated for TWO YEARS. Eventually they reunite, only for another war to begin and the ML to die.

I can't even. This man went through an entire character development journey just to get killed off. Meanwhile, the FL survives with her son, seemingly still floating around in her little bubble of moral righteousness.

As for the production, the chemistry was fantastic, although I'm still not entirely sold on the FL's kissing scenes. Also, ML, please stop rubbing her face like that. It was supposed to be sexy, but after the fifth time, I wanted to file a complaint. The writing also dragged, especially with all the political subplots. After episode 19, I was watching at 2x speed and skipping like my life depended on it. There were so many twists that eventually I just wanted everyone to sit down and shut up for three episodes.

Overall, I enjoyed the romance, the ML's character development, and the yearning. But the pacing, political drama, and FL tested every ounce of my patience. The chemistry was there. The yearning was there. The character development was there. Unfortunately, it was mostly happening on one side of the relationship.

Would I watch it again? Absolutely fucking not. But I don't regret watching it either.