I was such a fan of PoJ until episode 26. After that, it became so anticlimactic and unevenly paced, ending in…
It was uncomfortable to watch so many scenes of toxic side couple "romance". These scenes did glorify abuse and were just too many and after a while of repeated toxic scenes, just feel like didn't really add to the story anymore. Also toxic couple's scenes took away from the main couple's screen time. So sad how the final moments of PoJ were in the alternate universe with Qi Min talking about fate, and then an abrupt cut to the closing credits! Where's our MC?
I was such a fan of PoJ until episode 26. After that, it became so anticlimactic and unevenly paced, ending in…
Yeah, I"m kinda new to cDramas just starting about a year ago and really am impressed with so much I've seen so far...so PoJ started off for me like topping everything and I was just completely floored with how amazing it was like the cinematography, lighting, mood, character development, village life, main couple... essentially the LinAn village arc and reuniting in the military camp arc were so EPIC like almost all the moments were so good.
Then it just became almost like a different drama in terms of tone, storytelling, character develoment, editing, etc... I was surprised at the sudden change. Many strange & sudden developments that were not going with the flow of the 1st & 2nd arcs of the story.
It honestly went from being a sublime viewing experience to a ridiculous viewing experience for me, if I compare with how it was in the first 2/3 of the drama.
Actually I just brought up a few ridiculous points that stood out towards the end, but there were so many others that I didn't single out (but many others here have!!!) just because I was so disappointed and too tired to point out everything that I didn't like about how the story flowed towards the end.
Anyway, I really loved PoJ until ep 26 and have rewatched it until that point, as the drama was airing, but my irritation at how the story unfolded and ended makes me not want to rewatch.
My thoughts on PoJ (really disappointed with how the last part couldn't keep up with how it started ā¹ļø),
I was such a fan of PoJ until episode 26. After that, it became so anticlimactic and unevenly paced, ending in complete makjang in the final battle, without a clear and satisfying explanation of past events, and perhaps the most awkward and stilted final cdrama moment in the alternate ending from the 2ML/main toxic villain.
How can a Cdrama do a complete 180 in terms of storytelling, tone, pacing, character development...? I am so confused as to how this happened. PoJ started off so beautifully with the first arc in Linan village. I was completely enraptured with our FL and ML, how she saved him, their back stories, and especially how their relationship developed. I loved the snowy landscape, the chill mountain village vibe, the cozy cooking scenes, the way they slurped the pork intestine noodle soups with relish, the intrigues here and there about what happened 17 yrs ago, and of course all the scenes with ZLH š. I loved how Changyue nursed XZ back to health, and how he was so understanding, observant, and caring. It was lovely.
Everything was moving along so well, even when he left to go back to the military camp, even when she went to look for him, and all that happened in between. Our MC was still in character, and their reunion at camp was so moving. Really on its way to being a masterpiece.
I was enthralled with how their story (and even the side stories!) developed at this point, and even more thrilled when she fought on the battlefield, defeating Shi Hu. The fight choreography was so memorable and so well done! And how she realized XZ was the marquis and how he whisked her off on horseback...that was truly the peak moment of this drama.
Sadly, after that, it kind of went off the path of masterful storytelling. I think this became obvious starting with her fight scene against General Changxin...actually it was more when she asked XZ who he would take on, Changxin or his psychopath son. Anyway, it just seemed out of character.
At this point onwards, there were so many unsatisfying moments and I was just so unhappy with how little time they gave to our MC together, and especially to XZ as marquis. This would have been so much better had it focused more on the MCās romance rather than the toxic side coupleās, allowed the story about past events to unfold better (like maybe throughout the drama, instead of just unloading everything in the last couple of epis and even then it was still confusing and unclear), redeemed Uncle Wei (honestly, the real bad guy whose actions precipitated the tragedy from 17 years ago was Tutor Li who betrayed his friend circle, gossiping to the old emperor! I mean what kind of punishment did he get, he conspired with Qi Min too! So unbelievable and annoying), and kept the same tone & style with the cinematography. I just expected too much!
The Sublime: -Linan Village arc -ZLH š -the music -the villainous brothersā auras -Uncle Wei with the moustache
The Ridiculous: -the ending -how much time was given to toxic side coupleās romance (ugh!) -Changyue defeating General Changxin -Qi Min surviving the fall from the top of the fort (somehow I was shocked to find him in jail! )
Itās funny because as PoJ was airing and while I waited for later episodes (not knowing at the time how it would all turn out), I was rewatching earlier episodes and just enjoying their time in Linan and their reunion. I never could have predicted that I would feel so unsatisfied with the ending. I know one has to take the good with the bad, but at the end of it all, I was left wondering how much nonsense we the viewers can accept at the end of a drama despite an amazing beginning. I guess I can accept a lot because Iām giving it an 8.5, lol. Still, I canāt help but feel like I was played.
I'm on episode 4 and starting to get really pulled into the story! Loved ep 3!!! And especially loved the sisterly dynamic & chemistry between Lu Wu Yu & Wu Wang Yan! Their aura was soš„. Also happy to see Yan An again but I wish he was as badass as in FoF haha. I guess it's still early in the story...
That was... an ending.I have to say, the first 15 or so episodes contained some of the most beautiful, sincere,…
Itās really too bad it ended that way. I felt so upset & disappointed to see such a nonsensical final arc & ending. I just really loved the 1st part so much that I expected the high quality would continue til the end. Oh well.
Iāll just fool myself into thinking the drama ends when XZ picked up Chanyue on horseback after her battle against Shi hu and rewatch up to there!
Iām just ranting here, so donāt read if you canāt handle it lol.This drama left me scratching my head. They…
Agree with you, this last battle was makjang craziness. I was taken aback too when XZ and his uncle started fighting in the middle of the coup!!! And that Chanyue didnāt do much then except for saving QQ.
imho, plot fell apart after Chanyue fought the 2nd general Changxin. Itās just too bad because it started off so well! Linan & separation arcs deserve a 10/10, but the rest? Itās like a different drama altogether. Itās like production got tired and phoned it in.
So impressed with the music during the fighting/ battle scenes especially Rising Storm! The BGM is amazing too! Does anyone know what instruments are used for the BGM for openig credits & during epi 16 fight scenes at the top of the castle ? Sounds like some kind of reedy bagpipe or didgeridoo.
Am I the only one still enjoying the show? Kinda disappointing :( I miss the days of the positive reception early…
I love it, this is one of the best I've seen! So far up to epi 32 and it deserves all the recognition because it's shockingly good. Also we the viewers are so spoiled, I mean wow the cast š
Then it just became almost like a different drama in terms of tone, storytelling, character develoment, editing, etc... I was surprised at the sudden change. Many strange & sudden developments that were not going with the flow of the 1st & 2nd arcs of the story.
It honestly went from being a sublime viewing experience to a ridiculous viewing experience for me, if I compare with how it was in the first 2/3 of the drama.
Actually I just brought up a few ridiculous points that stood out towards the end, but there were so many others that I didn't single out (but many others here have!!!) just because I was so disappointed and too tired to point out everything that I didn't like about how the story flowed towards the end.
Anyway, I really loved PoJ until ep 26 and have rewatched it until that point, as the drama was airing, but my irritation at how the story unfolded and ended makes me not want to rewatch.
How can a Cdrama do a complete 180 in terms of storytelling, tone, pacing, character development...? I am so confused as to how this happened. PoJ started off so beautifully with the first arc in Linan village. I was completely enraptured with our FL and ML, how she saved him, their back stories, and especially how their relationship developed. I loved the snowy landscape, the chill mountain village vibe, the cozy cooking scenes, the way they slurped the pork intestine noodle soups with relish, the intrigues here and there about what happened 17 yrs ago, and of course all the scenes with ZLH š. I loved how Changyue nursed XZ back to health, and how he was so understanding, observant, and caring. It was lovely.
Everything was moving along so well, even when he left to go back to the military camp, even when she went to look for him, and all that happened in between. Our MC was still in character, and their reunion at camp was so moving. Really on its way to being a masterpiece.
I was enthralled with how their story (and even the side stories!) developed at this point, and even more thrilled when she fought on the battlefield, defeating Shi Hu. The fight choreography was so memorable and so well done! And how she realized XZ was the marquis and how he whisked her off on horseback...that was truly the peak moment of this drama.
Sadly, after that, it kind of went off the path of masterful storytelling. I think this became obvious starting with her fight scene against General Changxin...actually it was more when she asked XZ who he would take on, Changxin or his psychopath son. Anyway, it just seemed out of character.
At this point onwards, there were so many unsatisfying moments and I was just so unhappy with how little time they gave to our MC together, and especially to XZ as marquis. This would have been so much better had it focused more on the MCās romance rather than the toxic side coupleās, allowed the story about past events to unfold better (like maybe throughout the drama, instead of just unloading everything in the last couple of epis and even then it was still confusing and unclear), redeemed Uncle Wei (honestly, the real bad guy whose actions precipitated the tragedy from 17 years ago was Tutor Li who betrayed his friend circle, gossiping to the old emperor! I mean what kind of punishment did he get, he conspired with Qi Min too! So unbelievable and annoying), and kept the same tone & style with the cinematography. I just expected too much!
The Sublime:
-Linan Village arc
-ZLH š
-the music
-the villainous brothersā auras
-Uncle Wei with the moustache
The Ridiculous:
-the ending
-how much time was given to toxic side coupleās romance (ugh!)
-Changyue defeating General Changxin
-Qi Min surviving the fall from the top of the fort (somehow I was shocked to find him in jail! )
Itās funny because as PoJ was airing and while I waited for later episodes (not knowing at the time how it would all turn out), I was rewatching earlier episodes and just enjoying their time in Linan and their reunion. I never could have predicted that I would feel so unsatisfied with the ending. I know one has to take the good with the bad, but at the end of it all, I was left wondering how much nonsense we the viewers can accept at the end of a drama despite an amazing beginning. I guess I can accept a lot because Iām giving it an 8.5, lol. Still, I canāt help but feel like I was played.
10/10 for ep 1-26
7.0/10 for ep 27-40
8.5 OVERALL
Iāll just fool myself into thinking the drama ends when XZ picked up Chanyue on horseback after her battle against Shi hu and rewatch up to there!
imho, plot fell apart after Chanyue fought the 2nd general Changxin. Itās just too bad because it started off so well! Linan & separation arcs deserve a 10/10, but the rest? Itās like a different drama altogether. Itās like production got tired and phoned it in.
The toxic couple vertical drama like jail scene was so extra