This review may contain spoilers
This drama is very interesting to me. I saw so many good reviews for it and I like the idea and story line of Soulmate. I will be honest I did not except to wait so long for them to meet but I honestly think it was worth the wait.It's 22 episodes and by now if you have watched a certain number of dramas you get the general idea of who the female lead and male lead will be. I came in this show knowing who the leads are and to my amazement (and some-what disappointment) it took about 13 episodes for them to meet (I hope you don't take this as a spoiler). When I first watched it, it felt like a drag. I could not understand why the writers would wait so long for them to meet and it annoyed me.
By the time I finished the drama I totally got the reason why they waited and I really appreciated in the end. It made the story line even more amazing to me.
This drama focuses on the idea of soulmates. Some people believe in soulmates and some don't. In the drama you have both of those type of people. The biggest question of course is "Are there really soulmates?" This drama totally answered it in every way. And I LOVED it! This totally made the story line amazing to me.
The cast is great and on point. I think every one did a great job on their roles and all the characters are well thought out. There is enough drama on here that you might not notice in the beginning that the leads haven't met yet. I will be honest that it will feel like a drag for some, especially those who love fast pace dramas but I feel that in the end it was worth the wait.
Some where iffy about the ending but I loved it and I think it went perfect with the story. It made perfect sense for the situation they where in at the time. One thing that makes this drama great is that there relationships are very realistic. I also felt like the ending answered the question that we were asking ourselves the whole drama "Are there really soulmates?" That to me made the drama great.
I gave the re-watch value an 7. I did write that I appreciated the first half of the show even though it felt kind of slow but I wouldn't necessarily watch that part again. I will watch the second half again because I truly thought it was brilliant and the best part of the show.
So to you people out there who are kind of scared because you like fast paced dramas then don't be. Trust me, the first half is not boring and it's a great way to set up a drama like this. The end result is all that really matters and trust me when I say it's the best part. Overall, the drama is great. I think the writers and cast did a really good job with this.
If you're an romantic lover than this is the drama for you.
PS, The song "This is not a love song" was stuck in my head a week after I finished the drama. Lol I loved it!
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basic ceo secretary romanced based drama
i honestly dont know how i managed to watch this drama. i skipped a lot of scenes cause they were just that boring. the story itself is common and i'm guessing many people have watched these types of dramas before. it's about the most cliche drama plot ever, ceo secretary romance in the office along with amnesia where the ML loses his memory. the drama started off fairly nice, i had high hopes for FL since she was in the untamed. but about midway through, the story just got so confusing and unwatchable especially when the ML lost his memory over and over again. i can say that there are numerous intimate scenes too but which were executed awkwardly ngl. i only fully watched the last 5 ep cause i wanted to see how it ended and it was happy ending so thats good at least. the cast is pretty solid, i found the second lead couple chemistry and bickering more interesting and wanted more scenes with them. also the third lead couple was so so boring and it felt their relationship was forced. music wise, i saw a lot of people complaining about the background music but i personally didn't have this issue maybe its cause i didn't watch the ep on youtube cause ik youtube sometimes has copyright. overall, if you are wanting to watch no brainer kinda drama with cute funny scenes, give this a try.Was this review helpful to you?
Sweet & Cute and Short
I did enjoy this drama, as it followed on straight from Star & Sky in my mind, and the actors were all the same, I did love seeing the Dao and Kluen every so often in this, it literally can be watched together, as i found the stories very similar and often overlapping.I love all of the characters and I think the casting was done so well. Fah and Prince. Their chemistry is really good! The story between teacher and doctor isn't a new taste, plus its simple packaging makes this series easily to forget in a short time.
Not much to say about, just a change of scenery literally, they were cute moments with the kids, and funny moments as well, but either than that there is really nothing much to say about it.
Overall: its a sweet drama, and can be watched in 1 sitting.
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"Don't Meddle with the Past, Don't Question the Future."
As we all know very well, June and July are the busiest month for c-drama industry because it is SUMMER HOLIDAY! Speaking of summer holiday, the three kingdoms aka Tencent, IQIYI, and Youku repeatedly release high-profile shows to spoil us watcher. Tencent bombarded with 'Lost You Forever Season 2', 'As Beautiful as You,' and 'The Legend of Heroes' (the latter got pulled back, though). IQIYI only dropped 'Follow Your Heart' and 'Her Fantastic Adventures', both of which are not doing really well in the charts. Lastly, Youku splashed out 'The Double' and a hit-or-miss 'The Princess Royal'.Well, I don’t watch those shows and choose the less-known 'Link Click' from a less-known platform Bilibili instead. At first glance, I thought it is just a typical low-budget show, but hell no! From the ingenious script, captivating storyline, aesthetic shots, mesmerizing backgrounds, to the multi-faceted characters, everything is executed flawlessly! The writer does a good job in exploring human’s complicated emotions which adds a depth of layer in the story. There is mixed portion of comedy, bromance, and thriller, all of which are balanced well. Another wonderful aspect is no cliché – I find the scenes particularly realistic and it’s really hard to detect a single cliché, which is a very rare aspect in c-drama world.
The story revolves around the trio (Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang, Qiao Ling) who operated ‘Time Photo Studio’. In fact, it was just a normal photo studio – however, what made it special was their supernatural power. Cheng Xiaoshi had the power to enter the photo and transform into the person who took the picture while Lu Guang was in charge of monitoring Cheng Xiaoshi's actions and made sure that Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t make any big changes to the events that were occurring in the photo. Qiao Ling might not share their extraordinary ability, but she was able to gather information through her job as a presenter in a talk show company ‘Ling Ting Ta Shuo’.
Spanning over 24 episodes, the trio traversed into 7 different cases. Though the cases were not related to each other, each case provided a shred of clues about Lu Guang’s mysterious origin and his relationship with Master Xita. Each case is written as meticulous as possible while also allowing the watchers to feel the characters’ pain and growth. Each episode spans around 50 minutes something, but it’s not draggy, anyway.
I must say that the acting from every actor is SUPERB! I especially like Jiang Long – he has improved much since 'Tiger & Crane', and he captures the essence of Cheng Xiaoshi’s very well. Whenever he laughs or cries, I can feel him and badly want to join too. Bi Wenjun also improves since 'Warm on a Cold Night' and 'I Am Nobody', but is still outshone by his co-star. I feel that he has been typecasted in every drama, always playing the cold and aloof character, I wish I could see him in a brighter and cheerful role once (by the way, this is his second drama that I watch in a row, with the latter being the ongoing ‘Treasures Around’). Bu Guanjin surprisingly plays the fiercely loyal and supportive sister Qiao Ling in an outstanding way. Qiao Ling is not someone who can be fooled easily (this happens when Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang attempt several feeble lies to cover up their power), and she is no damsel-in-distress, which is why I label her as one of the strong female leads. Special mention to all of the cameos for grasping the core of their characters! And Dr. He Xu is an amazing villain too - you can never predict whether he is a friend or a foe (those motor racing scenes are great! He's just too awesome to be resisted).
I particularly like the ending OST – it is such a rare thing to hear a rock-themed OST in c-drama. BGMs and other OSTs are nice too.
Kudos to the production team and the entire assemble of casts for creating such a wonderful masterpiece. Don’t forget to rate the show if you’ve completed it because it deserves more than 7.9. Good luck and happy watching!!
These are the main core of the cases in case you want to be spoiled:
1. Sheng Chunzao's shameful scandal in prying over his employees' privacy
2. Chen Xiao's traumatic past
3. Shuang Hai and Zheng Zhong's complicated brotherhood
4. Liu Ye's being accused as a lecher and Sang Ning's hallucination anomaly
5. Zhou Xiaobai's expulsion from the opera house and the missing umbrella
6. Master Xita's cause of death
7. He Xu's treachery and the obsession of his sister.
Note:
For those who learn and speak Chinese, this is a good chance to put your Chinese language skills to use since the subs are horrible or you're too impatient to wait for better subs. I watch this by relying on the Chinese subs and it's not that difficult, although I admit that I don't understand a character or two.
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much better than s1 argue w the wall
its so rare to see a second season better than the first but here we are !! everything about it was so much better and was just a good kdrama. the acting from both yoojun and hyuk was amazing, especially since its hyuk's first lead role and yoojun's acting is always incredible. their chemistry was IMMACULATE like every single scene with them had me giggling and kicking my feet i would always have the biggest smile on my face, which is a huge contrast to season 1. they also tried to follow the novel as much as they could wich was nice to see. i saw people saying yeonwoo wouldnt have reacted the way the way he did and maybe im being lenient but i think the writers did the best they could to acknowledge yoohan being gone but also allowing yeonwoo to move on.the plot itself was a lott more interesting than the season 1 plot too, finding out more about yeonwoo's mother and other monos etc, it was written well and the production, sets etc fitted perfectly (the 2 friends were vv cute too) . the small critque i have was the editing was a bit off at time and during fight scenes you couldn't really tell what was going on but neither of those things got in the way of my enjoyment ! to add the ost is really really good and that alter you song has been stuck in my head since the teaser came out
sehyun and yeonwoos development was adorable and as i said the chemistry between them was incredible and in my opinion this is a much better pairing than season 1. in conclusion it was very fun & entertaining to watch, just a really good kdrama as a whole and even better than a lot of higher budget ones i've seen. i will definitely rewatch again but just the second season lmao, this is now one of my favourite dramas. i hope yoojun & hyuk know they did a great job <3 (i will never ever be shutting up about the forehead kiss btw)
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1De-Railed Revenge : A Binge Worthy Melodrama
Perfect Marriage Revenge is an entertaining blend of makjang drama and revenge that follows the journey of Han Yi Joo, who grapples with familial betrayal and seeks to alter her life when a second chance is given to her.The drama starts strong with an engaging premise and believable chemistry between the leads. However, as the series progresses it begins to lose its initial spark. The focus shifts increasingly to all the antagonists. While their stories and perspectives did add tension and drama, the main lead's interactions felt a bit sparse. Yes, the motivation for the villain's actions did add more depth to the story, but I was frustrated with the wasted potential when the dynamics between the leads were strong and it was just sidelined.
The second half of the story felt very repetitive. The revenge plot, which felt compelling initially, seems to resolve 'too easily' as major conflicts are either sidestepped or wrapped up quickly. While the chemistry between the leads is heartwarming, it felt very fragmentary. I wish they would have focused more on 'her revenge' rather than her being one of the side characters in other people's drama.
Acting-wise, all the actors did believable jobs, but the antagonists often outshone the leads for me. However, there were a few moments like slapping unnecessarily and throwing drinks at each other (Lol!), that reminded me of the chaos which is expected from makjang dramas. xD A whole new level of melodrama!
Despite the issues, the drama wraps up satisfactorily. The idea that true fulfilment comes from personal happiness rather than vengeance was beautiful. Yi Joo finally having a loving family was the perfect end!
Overall, this was a very entertaining watch for me. Though it has flaws, it's a binge-able choice if you enjoy melodrama and over-the-top chaos.
7.8/10
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As you can see I liked the story except the ending because it made me not want to watch this drama ever again. If you don't like ironic (and ridiculous) endings, don't watch this!
(I'm sorry if you don't quite understand what I am trying to say, but since I don't want to reveal anything I cannot explain more.)
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"THOU SHALT NOT VEX A STRANGER"
These words keeps echoing on my mind as I'm watching this while having a cup of coffee in the middle of the night. Actually, it's good to watch this in a dark room filled with silence at night. I'm not scaring you, I'm just setting up a good way to have a momentum so that you'll be able to enjoy it at the very least because.. it does sounds like an "Edgar Allan Poe" to it if you've already watch or read some of his works. If not, then if you've already encountered a dark series somewhere.
Some of episodes may be a bit too draggy but full of surprises at the end of each story. There may be some good or bad but the tension between emotion and reason extend its influence beyond those protagonists. Eventhough "SUSPECT" is already obvious, it's really an unpredictable twist that keeps you thinking what they've done or ask yourself this:
"Did your 'Detective Intuition' tell you that?" :D
Darkest tangle that leads you to a World of Dark Tales. Some of its OST is good as if it's breaking the silence and some are not that good. This drama is dark and measured, it often illustrates people to dramatic event that explore the darkness of human interaction.
And.. again, I'm not forcing you to watch this one and I can understand why it has low ratings in Japan though those actors didn't manage to save their sinking ship but I highly recommend you watch some of its episode I've seen that good so far. This may be pointlessly obscure or ridiculously mystical but it deserves a good ratings in other way or somehow.. I think so. :)
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Give it a chance
I was uncertain about this in the beginning but became to love it. It is a different storyline than most bl's which in and of itself is refreshing. Yes it moves a bit slowly but for this story it actually worked for me. You see growth in all 3 couples and I didn't feel that any part was too rushed. The back story of the leads was well placed within the story as to not get confusing as they sometimes do.These are the two lead actors from Grey Rainbow which absolutley tore my heart heart. While this story in the end does reminisce that ending it does end much better. I cried but my heart is still intact.
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I can understand why this series has the fairly high ratings it has, especially for this genre. The twisted connection between the three main actors and the development of their relationship was done well. I also very much appreciated how the supporting actors did incredibly well with their shifts from a normal human being to just plain creepy.
This isn't one of those "let me shock you into fear" or "let me disgust you so much that it will hopefully leave an impact" kind of show, which is nice. And although there were scattered moments of drag, there was enough depth to the story and characters where I still looked forward to the next episode. The ending felt a bit rushed and you'll have some unanswered questions or explanations but I was pleasantly surprised at the enjoyment factor.
Bonus points were given to the score because this genre is particularly difficult to do well.
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I can KIND OF see the effort but..
I’m convinced there‘s is a good story buried somewhere inside this garbage mess but it’s barely visible. This series made very little sense.It‘d be too long to go through every little and big thing in detail so I’m not gonna do it but to put it bluntly: nothing made much sense, including characters’ decisions and accusations. Even the first half of the show made barely any sense but the second half was complete idiocy. This show had several scriptwriters how did nobody catch the nonsense?
The first episode was actually quite good (good enough) but onward ep 2 it got exponentially worse until in culminated in full-on ludicrousness.
Absurdity of the plot aside, the show also struggled with extreme tonal inconsistencies. It didn’t know what it wanted to be, comedic or dark. It’s possible to carefully combine both genre elements but you have to know what you’re doing and the writers here were not up to the task. The whiplash I got from the clumsy, radical tonal shifts was insane. One minute it’s a serious scene and the next minute it’s suddenly turned into badly written gag comedy. Bizarre!
Some of the scenes were painfully overdramatic and were portrayed in a way that made them unintentionally hilarious. It felt like they wanted to make certain scenes look really cool but ended up making them look ridiculous instead. The direction felt incredibly amateurish and I know that the director isn’t an amateur but he obviously didn’t know jack about directing action scenes and it shows.
Now that we’re on the topic, this is not an action drama, it’s not a romance drama either, it’s an awkward and weirdly paced family drama with some clumsily sprinkled action and romance scenes in between. Oftentimes the dialogue was painful to listen to and most of the time it was on the nose with a lot of telling (AND sometimes showing). It genuinely felt like the dialogue was taken out of a bad shonen anime word for word.
Now onto the romance:
There was so little attempt at romance that I didn’t even care if Jack and Joker ended up together. The romantic chemistry and interactions were nurtured so little that I didn’t care to be invested in their supposed romantic attachment.
I don’t mean that we need to see them confess and/or make out with each other every other episode bc romantic chemistry and build up can be shown in a lot of different ways that don’t have to include sexual intimacy but you gotta have at least some build up, no?
Where are the stares, the slight flirtation? Sometimes it’s briefly there but then it abruptly stops, removing any possibility of a smooth romantic build up. It’s really awkward and at the end doesn’t amount to much. I’ve seen many types of bromances (Western and Asian) that have so much more romantic and sexual tension between characters where they barely even touch each other and this is supposed to be a BL but the romantic tension barely exists here. You can’t just haphazardly throw in a couple of romantic scenes in between all the plot and call it a romance. There’s an art to properly weaving romantic subplot into the main plot of a different genre. Talking about other BLs, Manner of Death did it right, Kinnporsche did it right, even Triage did it right and that one had barely any romance in it.
War is a good actor and Yin def. has improved but in this drama their acting felt slightly off kilter for a lot of the time. I might be wrong but it seems to me that the people heavily involved in this project, YinWar included, didn’t know what exactly they wanted it to be, weren’t sure enough in the direction of this story/plot/theme and that’s why almost everything felt wonky about it and the project itself felt unstable on its legs.
One last thing I want to mention about the plot is that it wanted to showcase how poor people were being taken advatage of by rich people but the poor people didn’t make the greatest decisions either. One example that really jumped out at me was the bit about Jack‘s parents.
They committed suicide bc they thought that their life insurance would be able to pay off their debt but bc they didn’t care to properly read the contract it didn’t work the way they expected it to (bc insurance doesn’t pay in cases of suicide, which was written in the contract!).
Why did they make Jack‘s parents seem foolish by making them not read the full contract? Why not make it a legal loop or make it some other type of refusal to pay out the insurance? Why not lean into the obvious unfairness and scam of the society that openly prefers and protects rich over poor? This was a missed opportunity and made Jack’s parents seem rather stupid instead.
Anyway, my criticism notwithstanding I do appreciate the idea and the grind. I see the effort behind the show and I respect the effort. I know that I’m in the minority in my dislike of the show and I think it’s a good thing that many other people liked it. I do wish for Yin and War to succeed in the entertainment business and I’m sure Jack and Joker will contribute to their future success, I just hope that their next project will be more to my liking.
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At first I watched this drama for Wallace Huo and Tang Yan, but I ended up loving all of the main characters. This drama was my first wuxia, so I didn't know what I had to expect.Story: The story is about Jing Tian, who is destined to rescue the world. Together with a noisy girl named Xue Jian (yes, in my opinion she is very noisy), the priest Chanqing, the mysterious girl Long Kui (If you read the synopsis on dramawiki.com, then you will know who she is, if you can't wait) and his companion MaoMao he searches for the solution to rescue the world. During the journey they are learning about their past lives and become friends. They have to fight against many enemys to get what they need and sometimes the solution has to do with one of themselves.
Acting: Hu Ge is a excellent Actor, I knew it, before I began this drama. Honestly, I like his character (Jing Tian). He reminds me of Naruto Uzumaki. Jing Tian is is full of joy, he talks very much and he is proud to be named as the hero. Hu Ge plays the role very well, but I hope I can watch him as a serious character next time.
This drama is my 3rd with Wallace Huo. I watched him in two dramas in two different periods, so it was my first ancient. (The other two were set in the II.WW and in the modern era). I think he is excellent when he plays serious roles, but I want to see him in a lesser serious role. His role is a priest who learns about his two past lives because he can't remember them.
Yang Mi acts as the noisy Xuie Jian. She was a character I didn't liked at first, but after...15 Episodes she wasn't very annoyoing anymore. I don't know any of her other dramas. Although she did a very great job, I think she was the least convincing castmember.
Liu Shi Shi (Long Kui) was good, but her character was so mysterious that she was so suspect. I think she LSS did a great job, although the last drama I watched with her, I didn't watched til the end.
Last but not least Tang Yan, who plays Zi Xuan a woman who plays a 200 year old who is also mysterious (and idiotic v.v). She gets on my nerves. Tang Yan plays her very well, but her character was so ... I can't get over one of the scenes v.v I don't know why, you have to watch it for yourself, but please, have a big staying power.
The supporting Characters were okay, but not special.
Music: I love the music. My favourite Songs are Pian Ai by Chang Yun Jing and the ending Song by Hu Ge. Pian Ai is played in special moments and most of the time it suits them.
Rewatch Value: I think I won't watch it again in the near future. The reason isn't that I don't like the drama, it is a situation in the drama I want to forget.
...
*Spoiler*
...
I can't get over the ending v.v Now I know what other watchers meant when they said Wuxia and HE are not very common v.v
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Just a breath of fresh air
I finished this series yesterday, but I am now finding the time to give a review. And what can I say? This series was indeed a breath of fresh air for me! I mean, the last Thai BL that I watched and I gave a 10 to was 'A Tale of A Thousand Stars' while the last good BL that I watched and gave a 10 to was 'Kieta Hatsukoi'. And yes, I know that this BL had some glaring flaws. However, the best parts outweighed those flaws for me, personally.Stoey-10/10
It's a simple story that has been told many, many times. Yet, I feel in love with it. They were frenemies and became lovers. Heck- they were friends from since they were small behind thier parents back! And I felt that it was portrayed in such a beautiful way. And, okay, yes, Wai was a huge d@ck for doing what he did to them and not apologizing, but in the end, he accepted them.
And what I loved about this series that I am not seeing a lot of people are talking about is that the parents, while they don't like each other, they are very acceptable to whoever thier children are dating. Like Pran's mom accepted that her son would date a guy( she just didn't want it to be Pat though). And Pat's parents were totally cool that Pa was dating Ink (I'm sorry but tis is huge to me as I will forever be scarred by BL's parents who don't accept thier kids due to who they are dating). And coming down to the ending- like the parents know that they are secretly dating and have (kind of) just come and accepted it.
And, okay, I thought that it was a trival reason for why the parents hated each other. But when I saw an explanation for the reason- I understand why they became the way that they did. I'm not gonna say that this series is perfect in all of it's ways- yes they are flaws. But those flaws don't really stand out to me.
Acting/Cast-10/10
Hands down. One of THE best acting that I have seen in such a long time. From the amin cast to even the supporting role- they all were phenomenal.
Music-10/10
I love the music so much that it honestly didn't bother me, no matter how much times that they have played the song in the series.
Rewatch Valu-10/10
Yes! I will most definitely rewatch this series again. I love it so much! And I shouldn't be surprised because the director of this series, Backaof Noppharmach Chaiwimol, has developed phenomenal series over the years with outstanding actors and I will continue to support him!
Overall-10/10
Overall, I give this series a 10/10. I have stated in previous posts that for me it's how the actors and he directors are able to bring across a story that you have seen a 1000 times into a way that can either take our breath away or make you feel...meh. They were able to do the former for me and for that I am grateful. I would most definitely recommend this series to others to watch!
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Visually stunning with strong characters, but reservations on pacing and plot.
SYNOPSIS: Melody of Golden Age, released in 2024, blends romance, mystery, and political intrigue. The story follows Yan Xing, a young woman from the Yan family who works as a scribe in the Ministry of Justice. Gifted with notable investigative talent and a strong sense of justice, she stands out for her deductive skills. Due to an unexpected circumstance, when her sister escapes an arranged marriage by the Empress Dowager, Yan Xing finds herself in a difficult position. To protect her family, she ends up marrying Shen Du, the head of the imperial guard, known as "White Ghost," feared by everyone for his strict approach and intimidating presence. With various mysterious cases arising in the city of Xiang'an and surrounding areas, Yan Xing and Shen Du team up to solve them. As they spend more time together, their bond grows stronger, and they uncover a massive conspiracy within the Imperial Court.FAVORITE QUOTE: “Everyone must love themselves before loving others.” - Ep. 07
POSITIVE POINTS:
(1) Chemistry Between the Protagonists: The interaction between Yan Xing and Shen Du is fascinating, with a noticeable contrast between their personalities in many situations. While Yan Xing is driven by intense determination and some impulsiveness, Shen Du, though equally courageous, is more calculating and prudent in his actions. Their relationship develops gradually, and we can observe the transformation of their feelings, shifting from care to a growing passion as the story progresses. An interesting detail is that they have known each other since childhood due to a traumatic experience Shen Du went through. However, because of his night blindness, he does not remember that Yan Xing is the same girl who visited him during his punishment. As they spend time together, he falls in love with her, not knowing she was the one who helped him in his childhood. This aspect of the story is particularly touching, as, unlike many dramas where the male lead only falls in love when he learns about the shared past with the female lead, here Shen Du's love for Yan Xing had already blossomed in his heart even without him knowing who she truly was. Their interactions, full of glances, declarations, and displays of affection, were truly captivating, their chemistry was incredible.
(2) Acting: The cast did an amazing job. It is undeniable how well all the actors performed their roles, staying true to the personalities and character development outlined in the script. In my opinion, the standout performances were by Ding Yuxi (Shen Du) and Ancy Deng (Yan Xing). Ding Yuxi is an incredibly talented actor, whose performance is solid and intense. His exceptional ability to control his emotions just through facial expressions is remarkable. He perfectly captures the complex layers of his character: a relentless man driven by a deep desire for justice in the name of his family, cold and fearless, yet revealing a protective and affectionate side when it comes to the person he loves. Ancy Deng, despite her youth, brings Yan Xing to life with an admirable performance. She skillfully conveys the inner emotions of her character, whether in moments of action, where her determination shines, or in more delicate moments, where her vulnerability and humanity become evident.
(3) Costumes: The costumes in this drama are stunning and play an important role in building the atmosphere and characterizing the roles, reflecting the historical context. I want to highlight the costumes of the imperial court, which are richly detailed, with colors and ornaments that exude the splendor of nobility and the clear social differentiation. Additionally, Shen Du's costumes, typically in shades of black, were a great choice as they reflect his authority and strength, creating a contrast not only with his nickname "White Ghost" but also with the costumes of the villain, Lai Luo Zhi, who wears lighter-colored attire, creating a striking visual difference between them. Yan Xing's costumes are equally charming. She is seen wearing outfits that balance practicality and femininity, fitting her position and personality, often in shades of blue, green, and pink.
(4) OST: The soundtrack choice was excellent, complementing the scenes beautifully and creating an immersive atmosphere. My favorite song was "Form a Pair" sung by Xu Ziwei. It is so beautiful, with a soft melody and touching lyrics that perfectly capture the romantic essence of the story.
* OBSERVATIONS:
> One of the things I found the funniest was that anyone involved with the Huo'Er Sect, whether directly or indirectly, always let out that evil laugh, hahahahaha. I couldn’t stop laughing at those scenes!
> The protagonist's impulsive personality never annoyed me, is that strange? LOL, I say this because it was one of the things I saw people comment on the most, but it didn’t bother me at all. In my opinion, her behavior and personality flowed well as the episodes went on.
> The kissing scenes between the protagonists were few, and when they did happen, they seemed a bit awkward. This could be a reflection of the direction, considering it's a historical drama, where the age difference between the lead actors may have been taken into account.
POINTS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
(1) The Investigative Plot Construction: When I started watching the drama, I thought the cases presented would be isolated. However, as the episodes progress, it becomes clear that all the cases are interconnected by the Huo'Er Sect. While this is an interesting approach, as it creates a complex web where various characters are connected and manipulated by the sect's ambition for power, at times the connection between the mysteries felt forced and even a bit far-fetched. This diminished the authenticity of the investigative aspect of the story.
(2) Abrupt Scene Transitions: At certain moments throughout the 40 episodes, it's noticeable that there's a lack of a more seamless transition between scenes. The sudden shifts from one setting to another or even the interruption of an ongoing scene caused, in me, a disruption in the flow of the narrative at times.
(3) The Separation of the Protagonists and the Construction of the Last Episode: In episodes 36-37, the protagonists separate, along with the signing of the divorce letter, which, in my opinion, was unnecessary for the development of the plot. Given the intelligence and strategic ability of Yan Xing and Shen Du, it would have been more interesting if they had crafted a well-orchestrated plan together to capture and expose Lai Luo Zhi's crimes in the Imperial Court. Instead, the narrative takes a route where Shen Du, in a gesture of protection, hurts Yan Xing by separating from her without revealing his true plan, which creates a sense of discomfort in their relationship. This choice, while understandable from Shen Du’s perspective of wanting to protect Yan Xing, diminishes the impact of their partnership, which was built throughout the story. Therefore, the separation was merely a way to generate dramatic tension, creating an unnecessary sense of disconnection for characters who were already so united and in love. Regarding the final episode, after the exposure of Lai Luo Zhi's crimes and the restoration of order in the Imperial Court, Shen Du chasing after Yan Xing. However, she rejects him, and Shen Du, in an attempt to win her back, sets up a marriage plan. Although the ending brings a romantic conclusion, there is a sense that it could have been better constructed. I would have liked to see a deeper moment between the two, where Shen Du sincerely apologizes and explains his reasons clearly, especially regarding the forced separation and his attempt to protect her without involving her in the dangers of the court. This dialogue could have been a crucial moment for character development, allowing both to express their emotions, fears, and the reasons behind their decisions. Additionally, the marriage could have been presented more emotively.
OVERALL VIEW:
Melody of Golden Age is a visually stunning drama with an intriguing narrative and strong characters, but it falters slightly in its investigative plot construction and pacing. My rating is 8.0/10.
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