This review may contain spoilers
Worth watching 110%
When I heard about this drama last year, I was very excited. I was looking forward to the 2 main leads' collaboration because both leads had previously done great work. I am primarily a fan of Zhao Lu Si (English name: Rosy). I have seen all her work, and I found her acting very innovative and effortless. She tends to understand her characters very well, and a joy to watch her performance. Whereas Yang Yang, the first-ever cdrama I watched, was Yang Yang, I found him very handsome and hardworking, and I wanted to see more of his work. Both leads from the first episode showed us great chemistry and outstanding acting skills.The characters they are playing make you want to keep watching repeatedly. I have rewatched the episodes again, and I love every minute of it. They are believable in the way they pursue their goals, by Witt and intelligent and fantastic combination of fighting skills, not to forget the romance between the leads and the drama showcase their complex emotions for each other, the world around them, and their values.
The storyline is definitely one of the best I have seen in recent years. The other cast members are very talented and have terrific interactions between them. The first few episodes showcased their fighting skills; they were breathtaking and moving. Later episodes show us a subtle romanticism of how the 2 leads started to see each other differently and the feeling of affection and protection and wanting to see each other; by the way, they would look for excuses to stay near each other for a longer time. The cast has done a great job, and the whole team should be very proud of their work. Definitely keeps us guessing and yearning for each episode.
Looking forward to watching how the leads characters develop and their romance. 10/10
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Great watch
I enjoyed my time watching this. It has good story, great characters, and I enjoyed the funny moments. I like seeing a female character who was an equal to her male counterpart, however, for a drama where the female character was supposed to be an equal, it does feel like the drama focused more on the male lead a lot more. I've seen a lot of comments about the female character having to be saved many times, but this wasn't a problem for me, as she did a lot of saving and protecting herself too. The villains were... to be honest, boring, there's not much to say about them unfortunately.I feel it dragged on in the middle, and I wished that they tighten things up in the middle and expand towards the end because that ending... it's just rushed.
Overall, I had a great time watching this drama and it has a lot of entertaining moments, so I'd still happily recommend this to people.
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This review may contain spoilers
Powerful King and Queen
Who Rules the World" is a 2022 Chinese drama series based on the wuxia romance novel "Let's Try The World" by Qing Lengyue1. The show depicts the adventurous love story of Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi, played by Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi, respectively
2. The story follows the two characters as they join hands to travel the world together
3. The show has a total of 40 episodes and is a mix of wuxia, romance, and fantasy genres.
The show has a great storyline, amazing chemistry between the lead actors, breathtaking cinematography, stirring music, and exciting action sequences.
I feel like I'm going through the same emotions as the characters. This drama is giving me all the feels, it's so intense! The love in this show is so powerful and heart-rending, it's almost too much to bear... AHHHHH suffer LOVE it.
- Hanieh :) -
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The Power Couple to Beat in Wuxia
Finally a strong female character from beginning to end! I didn't know what to expect from Lu Si since she has always played the adorable FL. However, I was convinced she was a strong and wise woman in this one. I was also worried Yang Yang will be all stoic and stone-faced, but I saw all emotions on his lovely face, thank goodness. This was a no-nonsense type of story-telling (except for some ridiculous fight scenes and vfx). Every character's goal was clear and their journey towards it was coherent. There were no annoying petty characters that serve no great purpose but exist only to make the main leads look good. It's still not as female-centric the way Pocahontas carries the story but it's a refreshing upgrade from the "strong" female characters of Chinese costume dramas I've seen. The power couple to beat in any wuxia.Was this review helpful to you?
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yang yang and Zhao lusi very nice
Hei Fengxi and Bai Fengxi are a fated pair. To the world, they're known as the Hei-Bai Fengxi duo, "Hei" and "Bai" as in black and white. They're each other's greatest rivals, companions and partners in crime but also inseparable like light and shadow. It's hard to describe their relationship with just a few simple words."As beautiful as she is lethal." Bai Fengxi is a smart and brave yet carefree heroine who stands in the face of justice. She's a cute glutton when there's good food and a headstrong, cheeky opponent when there's a good fight. Secretly, she's also Princess Feng Xiyun of Qing who's renowned for her intelligence and eloquence.
Hei Fengxi is the embodiment of grace and elegance that's known as a diplomatic and just hero. But underneath that façade, he's extremely cunning and ambitious, just like the endearing nickname "Black Foxy" Bai Fengxi has given him. Like her, he also has a double identity as the Second Prince Feng Lanxi of Yong. From a young age, he was forced to fake illness and learn the ruthlessness of court politics on the path to becoming the royal heir. Hei Fengxi is tough and merciless towards his opponents but incredibly soft-hearted when it comes to his own people, especially Bai Fengxi.
I'm truly in love with the duality of both leads. They're adventurous and playful in the martial arts world, but very dedicated to their royal duties in bringing peace and prosperity to their citizens. There's an unwavering trust and teamwork between Hei and Bai Fengxi that makes them a force to be reckoned with. What's more impressive is that they're both on equal footing where no one side is weaker than the other in talents, martial arts or status. While political schemes and wuxia values do play a major role in the plot, there's a more evident focus on romance.
The chemistry between Yang Yang and Zhao Lusi is so sweet and overwhelming. Admittedly, I didn't know how this couple would pane out in a historical drama but this is way better than any of my wildest dreams. They just click so well together. I can see that both have matured a lot in their acting. Yang Yang has become more experienced with subtle expressions from his role in You Are My Glory, as well as with action scenes from Glory of Special Forces. His background as a contemporary dancer also greatly contributes to the poised and refined portrayal of Hei Fengxi. On the other hand, Zhao Lusi plays the dashing and charismatic Bai Fengxi very well. She's truly badass on so many levels. It's like she has combined the female power from both of her roles in The Romance of Tiger & Rose and The Long Ballad together. Despite the age gap in real life, this pair looks great together on-screen. Though off-screen they're so childish and competitive with each other, it's no wonder Yang Yang said they have the same mental age as a 5-year-old.
This drama also has a very vibrant side cast. Xuan Lu as Feng Qiwu is such a girl crush and I love it when she teams up with Bai Fengxi, total femme fatale style. It's nice to see Wei Wuxian's martial sister kicking up a storm and fighting like a general. The kid playing Han Pu is such a sweetheart. He's a smart little cookie that knows how to bring the vibes. Feng Chang, played by Zhang Tian Yang, is a great older brother. He's protective of Hei Fengxi and really cares for him. Zhang Feng Yi pulls a very convincing act as the sly and cynical King of Yong (Hei Fengxi's father). It's heartbreaking to see Hei Fengxi suffer at his father's callousness.
We can't not talk about the excellent production from the director of none other than Love and Redemption, Ancient Love Poetry and Under the Power. The costumes are absolutely gorgeous and really highlight the duality of the leads. Those high pony tails and headpieces are just chef kiss. The scenery, action scenes and CGI are seamless. I love how Hei Fengxi uses the fan and Bai Fengxi uses her silk ribbon, it's such an effortlessly cool way to fight. Plus, those flying sequences are so satisfying to watch. While the last few episodes do feel a bit rushed, the overall plot remains fairly coherent and easy to follow. As prementioned, it's not supposed to be full-on political, like for say Nirvana in Fire, but emphasises more on the journey of Hei and Bai Fengxi as they traverse the world and discover what is truly the most important in life. Admittedly, there've been a few controversies and problems with the production crew towards the later part of filming, but this drama has turned out to be a fine one so all credits to the cast and staffs.
The OSTs are very complementary as well. Unparalleled (无双) by Liu Yuning is so empowering and intense. Except it's a bit strange to hear from Zhao Lusi's lover in The Long Ballad, if you get what I mean. My favourite got to be Breath of Wind (风息) by Tiger Hu and Ye Xuan Qing as it's very fitting for the Hei-Bai Fengxi couple. A Dream Come True (一梦浮生) by Silence Wang is like a sweet love confession. While Like A Dream (如梦) by Sunny is like a bashful reply to that confession. Lastly, Orphan (孤注) by Tan Wei Wei is the emotional song that hits you least expect it.
*If you're confused about the politics and would like some clarifications, CloudA has put together a fantastic background summary in the Discussion forum below.
FAVOURITE QUOTES:
“If I die, no one will know your [Hei Fengxi's] true face. Life will be boring.” Bai Fengxi
“I can hide anything from the world. Yet, I can’t hide anything from you [Bai Fengxi].” Hei Fengxi
“They always say to love until the ocean and earth run dry. We both know that these are just false promises. To me, I only want to hold your [Bai Fengxi's] hand until the end of life.” Hei Fengxi
“I met you [Bai Fengxi] when I just started in the martial arts world. And thanks to you, I saw the kindness of the world. And thanks to your company, I know what true feelings mean. It’s all thanks to you that I gave the world another chance.” Hei Fengxi
“They said sometimes you had to lose one thing in order to gain another. But some things are too painful to be let go. I can’t let go of her [Bai Fengxi] no matter how hard I try… I can let go of all my mortal desire except for this one. I can discard three thousand strands of woes but let me keep this one strand… Let it bind me for the rest of my life.” Hei Fengxi
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Martial Arts
Oh man I loved this. Some will not rate it high but I will. Everything about this drama was awesome. I loved the fantasy! I loved the Martial Arts! The visuals, the design, all were awesomely good. I love the main lead, Yang Yang who is one of my favorite actors... his acting skills are spot on. Zhao Lu Si, the more I see the actress, the more I love her. She played a part that I love the best, being that strong and courageous woman. The romance is perfect between the main characters had me in such an emotional state from crying to being happy to crying again. This is what loves looks like too bad it was fiction. Love for one another is never violent but is there unconditionally for one another. I have always longed for this type of love but never had it. Maybe that's why this is fiction. I thank all the other actors and actresses in this drama... I keep seeing one of my other favorite actors in dramas. Leon Lai, he such a great actor.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The relationships (both the platonic and romantic ones) are what made me love this drama
Pretty enjoyable show to watch! The actors are great, both the actors for the main characters, and the supporting cast. At some point halfway through the show, I wasn't sure if I would continue watching as it got a little too focussed on court politics without interesting adventures or fights. But as I kept watching, I'm happy I finished it, because the story, but moreover, the relationships between characters, got interesting for me again.One of the best things about this show is the build up of relationships, both the romantic and platonic ones.
The development of the romance between the main characters was really good and fun in my opinion. Their relationship was built up beautifully and very believable. You could understand why they cared for each other and why they fell in love.
Another relationship I very much loved was the friendship with Xuan Lu's character: Feng Qiwu.
Feng Qiwu on its own is a very interesting and wonderful character.
[SPOILER WARNING FOR THE NEXT BIT]
But I admire the show so much for not making her end up in a hopeless love triangle, instead having her become super good friends with Bai Fengxi (to the point that I would actually have loved an alternate ending of Bai Fengxi being in a relationship with both Hei Fengxi and Feng Qiwu). This beautiful platonic relationship is something I love to see, and often miss in other shows. It definitely makes Who Rules The World stand out from other shows that are otherwise very similar in worldbuilding and overall storyline.
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wuxia game of thrones with a timeless love story
I will never stop saying good things about this. Everything about it was just perfect.The drama started off more martial arts centered with a side of politics then became more and more about politics. I’m not complaining, of course, because I it was a masterpiece. Everything about it was just so well done: the romance, the politics, the people.
Their love story was to die for. At the beginning, it was already clear he had feelings for her. It was an enviable romance. Each party was self sufficient in their own way, and they were perfect for each other. He chose her over the world because she is his world. I know that doesn’t make sense, but it does I promise.
Zhao Lusi was amazing as always. There’s never been a drama where she fails my expectations, Her character was so well-written. She is truly a girl boss. The only thing that bothered me was when her voice cracks when she’s yelling… it’s only a bit, but it was noticeable. Nonetheless, I love ms girl because she is a power move.
Yang Yang was surprising. This was my first drama with him, and let me just say, he has looks. Not everyone can pull off that top bun but he did it. His character was arguably one of the most complex ones. He’s methodical, cunning, and witty, but he’s also caring and loving. He is one of my all time favs because he chose the girl over his ambitions,
The purple dude was my favorite “side” character hands down. There’s just something so charismatic about him that you just got to love him. I started getting a little wary when they were fighting, but in the end, he proved himself just and charming as always. When our ML started wearing purple, I was thrown so off guard because like it’s Huang Chao’s signature okay.
All the other characters were amazing. They 100% killed off so many just like in game of thrones. Our fl was really going through it.
Obviously, the CGI was amazing. This is one of the best productions I’ve ever seen, next to Love like the galaxy. I really want to know how much it cost….
** major major ending spoilers **
Okay , so I was wary of the time skips at first, but then I realised it made perfect sense for the story. Wars take a long time, and it’s not gonna end in just a couple months.
Also, I KNOW that wasn’t the ending. I’m going to pretend that as they’re spending the rest of their days together, they somehow found a way for them both to live to an old age and die together.
I hate Langhua. Like, I actually hate her. When her father went missing, she was so fast to get mad at FL and throw blame at her. Then, she ducking stabbed her. She fully believed FL would kill master Bai without any convincing evidence. Ms girl is immature and I wish she died…. Idc if she came around because she will always be ready to blame FL if anything happens. She quite literally killed her. Ain’t no way I’m forgiving anyone for that.
If she hadn’t stabbed her, there would still be flowers left. Then, ML wouldn’t have to give up his life to save FL because he could’ve used the flowers. Hate that bitch.
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Visually stunning but pacing is off
This is my first time watching a c drama as it's currently airing. And I can easily say that it has reignated my love for c dramas, and has made me want to watch more. Especially ones in this particular genre.To start with the good we have Zhao Lu Si's incredibly acting. I'm convinced she would have chemistry with a rock should the story require her to. This is my second time watching one of her dramas, and it certainly won't be the last. She's accompanied by Yang Yang, who albeit is a little more stiff in his acting, nonetheless manages to convince us of their undying love for each other. It was refreshing to see a drama without any unnecessary breakups or confusing love triangles. They supported each other from beginning until end.
It was also lovely to see a female main character who wasn't only supposed to be strong, but actually showed us that she was too. Unfortunately in dramas we're often told that the main character is supposed to be strong or powerful, but none of her actions showcase it. This was not a problem in this drama. We were quickly introduced to her character, and her moral compass. But even though she tried to be rightous and value all human life, she wasn't hesitant to get her hands dirty when the situation required it. Kudos to the writers and Zhao Lu Si for accomplishing this.
It wasn't all good however. One thing I always have some trouble with in chinese dramas is the over-the-top cgi they tend to prefer. It makes the show seem silly, even when it isn't supposed to be. I will also never understand why they insist on dubbing a show that is in their own language. Perhaps there is a reason for this that I just don't know about. But it still strikes me as odd.
The main problem I had with this show however, is the inconsistent pacing. Though it was enjoyable throughout, it felt like the middle part was dragged out unnecessarily long. The beginning was fast-paced and then it mellowed out into episodes that didn't feel like they furthered the plot very much at all. Which in turn made the ending very rushed. It seemed like they tried to cram 80% of the story into the final few episodes.
All in all, a very enjoyable drama. But one that definitely could have benefited from tighter writing or more episodes. Something I never thought I would wish unto a c drama.
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One of my favorites!
If you are looking for an amazing love story with a female lead role with wise, strength, and beauty, and the male lead role is strong, wise, caring, handsome, and loyal, this is the best one!Personally, these types of dramas are my favorites because their love is pure, and they work together through all the adversities. I enjoy the dramas where the female lead role is capable of achieving greatness.
Zhao Lusi is the best actress of all, and Yang Yang is amazing! Both have perfect chemistry in this drama, which makes it one of the best ones!
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Great story and actors
Finally finished the drama and I would say i really enjoyed watching it! Definitely recommend!! I never thought id ever be able watch 40 episodes without getting bored/lose interest half way through, but this drama clearly showed that with a good story line, plot and actors/actresses you can really get hooked and watch the drama all the way!Was this review helpful to you?
