Best Gaming Related Drama (Ever)
Of all the ridiculous amount of gaming-related dramas, this one is not only top tier, it is the best. Everything was done well from the complex characters to the plot. The biggest thing I had a problem with was with the villain as it progressed later on in the drama and some other details.The romance and friendships in this drama are definitely worth watching. The mystery layer was executed well and I must applaud the good execution of time-travel without all those crazy loopholes. In addition, this drama makes you like gaming compared to others because of how they incorporate the characters into the game and their hilarious actions which feel quite accurate. This drama also has a high rewatch value and I am interested in rewatching it again with a more critical lens.
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From rate 6 to 10
if only this drama had better subs at dramacool... huhu such a waste. if this comes out on netflix, i swear im gonna rewatch this w/o skipping.i really had a hard time watching it at the beginning, wasnt really hyping me. took me 3 days to watch the first half of the show. i was contemplating before what score i should give this drama. at the beginning, i was like, so-so, a 6. then towards the middle, oh an 8. at the middle, a 9. towards the end, definitely an effin 10!!
-love how not everything was serious, their jokes are funny, well at least for me. id really love to spoil my fave funny scenes but im saving it for those who havent watched.
-im a huge fan of romance but i liked how they keept the romance at a minimum -- priority is always the team, always the dream, always the passion. I LOVE IT.
-ending couldnt be better. unlike other e-sports dramas where they stop before the world champs (go go squid) or stop after winning the champs (gank your heart). ending was perfect great, no cliff hangers.
-definitely want a season 2 but not because its open ended but because i want to see more of chang sha, more of seven and north, and more of chang sha. lol
-lastly, luhan and leo wu are definitely going to my fave actors list. luhan just said buh-bye idol life, hello acting!
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Dreams are achieved by believing in the impossible
I started this drama with low expectations since I didn’t care for e sports, I was only watching since Luhan and wu lei were in it, however, I was blown away at how attached I got to this drama. All the characters were incredible and it was emotional to see how they all achieved their dreams and matured as individuals as well. Xiao bei encountered many obstacles on his path to becoming a professional e sports player but the journey he had was so emotional to watch, he grew so much as an individual and I was overjoyed when he achieved his dream after all the things blocking his path, wu lei played xiao bei SO WELL like seriously he nailed this role and I was very impressed with his acting, despite being so young he was able to encompass the turmoil xiao bei has went through in an emotional and thorough way so applause to him. Luhan also was incredible as xiao feng, the first e sports player to win the national championship the struggles they both went through were showcased beautifully and very realistically. While the drama was centred on e sports they also had a theme of sci fi, via xiao bei and xiao feng connecting across time (2008 and 2019) they went through so much together I seriously loved their brotherhood and how it was showcased. Xiao bei’s team and the other e sports players namely king were also amazing and I loved how the drama showcased the struggles of other players aside from the main characters to show more insight into the issue. There was also a mystery element included via the death of his brother which I really liked and I ADORED his brother when it showed his death I cried a lot. The romance in the show was slight but was still more than enough and I liked how they didn’t have the love interests as just there to be a love interest they had their own backstories and struggles. The music in this was very motivating, upbeat tunes of struggling to achieve ur dream like the drama’s message which I loved and saved since I loved the songs so much. Seriously after watching this I gained more insight into the world of esports and the struggles of the players which also gave me a better appreciation for the field and all those included. The drama really tried to push how dreams don’t have to be something you believe is possible, you can dream for what you want even if it seem’s unreachable and still achieve it and I loved this. I think I might rewatch this but not anytime soon but it’s definitely a drama you have to experience at least once I highly recommend this especially when ur in a down mood this will definitely lift ur spirits up with its showcase of how dreams can prevail no matter how impossible the circumstances. Like xiao feng said “you can achieve ur dreams by believing in the impossible” (kinda reversed can’t remember the exact line haha) but this drama will definitely stay with me as an amazing drama about youth and the perseverance of dreams :)Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
E-Sport Drama is the next big thing
In the last few years, we can see there have been more e-sport drama genre along the growth in this industry (Go Go Squid, Gank Your Heart, The King’s Avatar etc) and most of them have achieved a very well rating.Cross Fire, it is a must to watch and one of the top in this genre and I guess I will rank it along with some other great Chinese Drama in 2020.
Leo, no doubt with his acting skill considered as one the most talented young male actor in Mainland. We can see him in such a great improvement and development in his acting skill delivering the emotional in the drama.
Lu Han, started as singer but he has show improvement too in the drama.
The supporting characters have been well chosen especially Xu Wei who has been the antagonist has delivered very well. When you dislike a character so deeply even hate them, means the actor himself has done well and deep enough.
Overall, the story has bring family bond, friendship, romance, bromance, a very well captured in the drama.
Definitely a must watch drama for every chinese drama fans and even for those who has just started following the chinese drama.
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First of all, there's time when the plot is quite messy, and the editing also gets choopy. Especially in the middle of the series, there is a moment when the dialouge seems not related with the previous episode and the acting is kinda awkward. They also take time too long to make a sequence of the story, and that makes me already forget about what has been happening before.
But for a 36 episodes of drama, and the duration for every episode is longer than cdrama in general, i found this series is quite addictive. Yes, episode 1 is not that compelling to me, but from there onward, i just can't stop binge watching. The story is good, it makes the series to another level. The premise maybe seems general, but its storytelling is so detailed and quite complex. The editing in initial episodes also that good, and the dialogue is really clever. The ending, although seems too far fetch but match with the story overall and satisfying. I have to applause the director and screenwriter for this part.
And for the acting, i must say the casting director is a genius, man! She/ he can cast someone that really fit with the character. I can't say that all actors have superb acting, but they can bring their own character into flesh because they really fit in with it. If i have to pick, i must say Wu Lei is the good one in acting department. I think he can manage his character really good and brings his raw emotion to the viewers. I cry several times when seeing his scenes. The actor who play his father also good, but he has smaller part than other main casts.
And that's all my thought. So, if you wanted to see a drama without too much romantic scene and more focused in friendship, family and achieving a dream, then this drama is for you. It is a heart warming drama and left deep impression to me as a viewer :)
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Well written
tbh i watch this just because i am pan mei ye's faneven tho i dont like really like game or e-sport things
but after watched this, really interesting
fortunately this drama didnt have so many skinship nor romance,so i like it
and this about friendship, dream and teamwork
90% cast are men but the story is emotional enought
all actors good at expressed the emotion so i really enjoyed it
Main lead luhan and wu lei also good
and all support role acting is on point
and pan mei ye my baby she played su jiayi's really well
she really pretty and fit for game or animation drama
im glad that she got many screentime and the only one girl on that team
over all, this drama is recommended
i really want to know is this drama get awards?
bcs im newbie for cdrama
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This review may contain spoilers
BEST E-SPORTS DRAMA I'VE WATCHED
BEFORE WATCHING THIS DRAMA MAKE SURE TO HAVE TISSUES PREPAREDStarted watching this drama because of good reviews and all the reviews out there are right. This drama reallty is one of teh best out there. Let's start with what I really liked about this show, the show is not draggy everything makes sense, the friendship part which is highlighted the most is good and really realistic, the plot twist is really unpredictable (it's like you thought that you know what happened but there is another twist to it), and most importantly it is a very inspiring show that makes you want to realize all of your dream (it actually made me get up on my feet after a week of stress).
To let you know as I am writing this review I am still sobbing. Let's now get to the actors, Leo Wu as everybody knows really looks so handsome, BUT in this show he did not only use his physical appearance but his talent as well. What I like about him is he is not bothered that he is covered in sweat (by the way still looks good) and I will say to all of you he is really good in crying that I am sobbing so hard at 3am. He played Lu Xiaobei, a handicapped at the first part of the show but later on pursued to be able to walk again, which he let us see his progress and improvement. Speaking of improvement ALL of the characters were given a good character development that made me love all of them at the end (except of course Xu Wei who is downright evil up until the end). I will focus on the two main, Lu Han on the other hand, I can say that he gave justice to his character, all those dramatic scenes, with his character being the rock of their team up until the end, and of course his character's romance with An Lan.
-SPOILERS BELOW THIS LINE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK-
Before I end this, I would like to commend the part that Xiaobei talked to his younger self that really pushed him to get physical therapy so that he can make his promise to his younger self that they can walk again soon, come true. For me this scene really made me cry for half an hour and made me thought that the only person that can help us is ourselves, our passion, and our perseverance. Another part is where 1Coin reunited again after 11 years by the time Xiao Feng woke up, which will give you the feels that good friendship lasts a long time and they will stay by your side whatever it takes.
ALL IN ALL I REALLY LOVE THIS DRAMA I SUGGEST YOU WATCH IT RIGHT NOW!!
BUT HAVE YOUR TISSUES READY BESIDE YOU BEFORE HITTING THE PLAY BUTTON!!
Kudos to all that worked so hard for this drama and I salute all of the E-sports player all over the world you are all great and continue doing what you love!
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This review may contain spoilers
Such a moving story!
I've not cried in a drama for a long while already. This was one where I was emotionally moved. Maybe the hard work of schooling, doing well in my grades and all the agonies of work and life in generally, it's something I can relate to. (By the way, Singapore is a nation whose people has the least hours of sleep - i.e. the most sleep deprived people are here).Then there is the grief of losing a loved one... Leo did an excellent job in his role as a handicapped youth with a painful past of losing his brother whom he looks up to a lot. Despite the struggles of overcoming his past, he had to think about trying to also accomplish his brother's personal dreams and aspiration. The OST lyrics are also equally moving and real. I was searching high and low for the episode with the band performing in 2009...finally found it and shared it with my loved ones...hope they take inspiration from there.
Ive also given this re-watch value a 10 because I have literally re-watched this without skipping any episode. Definitely worth it. Give this a go and you won't regret as the ending was truly satisfying - Xiao Feng was able to regain consciousness and awaken from his long sleep (all thanks to Xiaobei who did his best to bring him out of the game), furthermore, Xiao Feng eventually got together with An Lan who has been waiting so long for him. Together, Xiaobei and Xiao Feng defeat Xu Wei in the CF game that was nearly impossible to win! How nerve wrecking! But yes, he deserves his just reward - for killing someone in an accident he didn't wish admit and own up to, he himself died in a tragic accident - what an irony of fate. Like the saying goes, what goes around comes around.
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Schizophrenic series that tries to be so many different things, sometimes succeeding
What a mix of genres we have in this series. Perhaps we can call it a sports (e-sports) drama since it is focused on competitive gamers, but I'm not sure how accurately it depicts the sport. The series is also a youth drama that seems to be encouraging young people to follow their dreams and persevere despite the odds. Yet, it also has an important sci-fi-ish inter-era communication element (not time travel, the main character clarifies, presumably for the benefit of censors): a main character from 2019 manages to communicate with someone in 2008. The even has a crime element to it.The motivational moments are not really badly done, but they can get a little too heavy at times, even reeking of unabashed patriotism and propaganda. I am not into gaming, and, for me, the game scenes are a little too prolonged at times. They work best when they are meant to reflect the relationships and feelings of the characters outside the game. Don't worry that the scenes would look like recordings of games though. Drama series conventions have it that world of the games in the story feature the actors of the characters in their respective gaming roles,
The part of the series that keeps me watching is the inter-era communication element. It may not be the most fascinating concept ever, but the series manages to use it well, starting with the 2019 character trying to save his brother by getting his 2008 friend to prevent an accident. It takes quite a few episode before this inter-era communication thing gets really interesting, however, because the series tries to be so many things at once.
The youth/gaming drama parts are, to me, less interesting, but this is somewhat compensated for by some nice characterisation and the development of the characters' relationships. The 2019 Xiaobei and his relationships with his brother and parents are movingly depicted without being sappy. The unity and tensions of the gaming teams are also nicely portrayed. There is even a bizarre comic scene involving a character who is sent to a fake rehabilitation center by his family--his teammates try to rescue him and chaos ensue in the center. The rescue mission is filmed by the game scenes, with the characters having different weapons and fighting one another.
Coming of age woes, the struggle for recognition, parental disapproval, romance, bromance, time "travel" .... This series seems to have everything. But I think the narrative would be tighter with a focus on the inter-era communication storyline. The gaming parts can be toned down. To be fair, the story is relatively coherent despite a few inconsistencies and plot holes, but the quality is not that consistent. Or at least it cannot be everyone's cup of tea for everything it tries to be. (I don't usually care about the numbers when I review, but I would give the parts I like at least an 8/10 overall, but the other parts perhaps a 7 - 7.5/10.)
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Gamer series with a lot of drama/friendship
I do enjoy this drama it is a mix of 50% drama/friendship 40% gaming/strategies and 10% romance. The romance is boy/girl relationship not boy love, there is a lot of bromance as in brotherly friendship for those who misunderstands. This drama is focused on the hardship of building/training a esport team and the friendship that is involved during this process. Which is what we go through in everyday life, there are always happy moments, falloff and betrayal of friendship at some point, quite realistic in our daily life. Also the struggles and commitment that is involved in accomplishing goals. There are quite some emotional scenes in the drama as the characters figure out their identity, or strive to become a better person. Leo Wu is a very good actor and Luhan has improved since his last two dramas, but considering he is more of a singer, i cut him some slacks on his acting.It is quite unique that the actors are acting in the game but what I don't like about the drama is some of the gaming/reality scenes is quite confusing. e.g. the romantic scenes with Su Jia Yi and Gao Bo Song? Are they visualizing stuff in their head when it happens in the game? Or when Xiao Bei saw Xu Wei in the game?
Compared to other Esports drama, my husband do prefer Kings Avatar "Anime." He is a hardcore gamer and doesn't care too much for "dramas." I tried watching Kings Avatar Live action but its too much gaming for me I do prefer something that has more drama like this one. L020 has 70% romance if theres anyone whos looking for more of these type of drama to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
For Filipino Cross Fire fans/players.
Story:The story is not plain and bland. Very interesting and wholesome. Every end of each episodes makes me want to watch the next episode. The feeling of excitement is latched every moment I finish one episode.
Acting/Cast:
The casts played very well. I am very observant with expressions and how they deliver. So far I haven't seen any cringe-y moments. Except for in-game dramas. I know, as Cross Fire players, some stunts are really impossible to do in the game. Examples: Doing backflips, changing different melee [from knife to shovel] midgame, etc. REALLY THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW [hahaha] but I know it's just drama and really entertaining to watch how the actors are like real cross fire players.
Music:
Really plays with your emotions. The moment the songs are played I already find myself crying before the actors. omfg WHAT
Rewatch Value:
Definitely gonna watch again. But there is an exception for the last few episodes [Spoilers ahead]. Team Continue[China] vs Team BTON [Philippines], seriously I can't believe not a single person from Team Philippines looks like a Filipino, even they're coach doesn't look like one. It's really disappointing, is this how they see us? Anyway, I had to pretend I didn't see that. That was just unbelievable. Other countries would feel the same when this misrepresentation happens. Despite all of that mentioned above. This series is Top Tier for me T_T [but please do better in representing other countries] XD
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WHAT A FUN RIDE!!!!!
Can i just say that compared to all the e-games drama that i've watched that this one really digged deep?The character development was really something that i did not expect. That goes for everyone, including the supporting roles in this amazing drama.
First of all, as a gamer i was so amazed on how the action scenes within the game are something that i would actually see (most of it, atleast) inside the game. They stayed true to that and i can see that they really payed attention to each and every detail. I loooooved loved loved that factor.
Second, almost all the characters were flawed w/ means they were very easy to relate to. I can especially relate to what Su Jia Yi's line on their last game where she knows she has to put more effort given that she is a woman and we all know there is a prejudice towards women in gaming up to this date. She was really likeable. I loved her.
Lastly, This is longer and deeper in storyline compared to other egames genre but to those who are wondering if they should watch it. You should!! It's soooooo damn goooood ??
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