Ok to watch
Good storyline, quite an emotional one. Love to see main actor Bei Cheng, he’s so cute and cool in different stages, he brings up the show. Unfortunately, the main actress Hang Jing was not acting well. It would be better rating if replace another main actress I guess. Not really like to see the way she blink her eyes in a slow motion as it’s so unnatural. Lady Qi is so elegant, love to see her characters in this drama, beautiful. Although the ending was not what I wish to be but it’s more to realistic and what it suppose to be. Last few episodes really made my tears dropped, no regret to watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Love in Flames of War
This is a sad drama but the development of their relationship is interesting. The ending could have been better but overall it is a 9/10 for me. The FL always listens to fake rumors this was pretty annoying.The ending feels like they will make an s2, but these ww2 dramas usually don't have an s2. If I was the director I would have ended with a reunion of the family.
Shawn Dou 10/10 acting
I don't rewatch dramas so I gave it a 1.
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My Take
Loved watching because I like military stuff though I do not like the fights or war itself. So the training and discipline and how they go about discharging their duties.I enjoyed the loyalty of ML team ie friends and all his military men.
I enjoyed the ML's acting, it was good.
FL lead was a bit disappointing but cannot fault her much because that might be what the script expected of her.
I routed for the relationship between ML and FL but was sometimes disappointed.
On the whole the drama was good and was always searching and waiting for the next episode.
Kudos to all involved.
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Sad but amazing
I don't usually watch sad dramas, but this one is fantastic; I thoroughly enjoyed it (even though I cried alot). It has an excellent cast and plot. ML and FL have good chemistry. The FL's misunderstanding of ML was the only thing that irritated me. Whatever ML does, FL always ignores his love and actions. She looked very desperate for 2 ML. She didn't deserve him.The ending was not what I expected. It was neither a happy nor a sad ending. I really hope this drama gets a season 2 and gives ML the happy ending he deserves.
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This review may contain spoilers
Somewhere between nostalgia and annoyance
I've worked about 4 months on this drama to translate it into my native language. Generally, I like "Republic" dramas, and I enjoyed Fall in Love for example. Still, this drama wasn't very popular among us,The music was great and one reason why I started this project, but even the great songs can't save the stories and the mostly unlikable protagonists. Whom did I actually like? Maybe Qi-furen.
However, I expected more from the lead characters when the drama started. Lin Hangjing is generally an independent woman, and that's a good thing. Still, she jumps to stupid conclusions and reacts extremely annoying most times. So she somewhat turned out to be rather hateful than independent. Still, Xiao Beichens reactions weren't much better. He's too stubborn for his own good, doesn't talk, and reacts violently in his jealousy. Certainly this is a historic drama, but at some point I didn't know what to think of this anymore.
Most women are pretty hateful, no matter Fengqi or Shuyi. It could've been interesting if they really grew as a couple, but except for the last few episodes, the relationship is a mess. The ending as a whole isn't very positive, but I think there were some great scenes, and I even felt a bit sorry for Mu Zhizheng. He was indeed annoying, but somehow more interesting and probably tragic than some of the other characters.
I don't really regret watching this, and now that it's over it feels even slightly bitter. Still, the endless misunderstanding destroyed it for me and some characters felt a bit too one-dimensional... like Fengqi for example.
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A Rollercoaster of emotions
Being a avid watcher of dramas that i cant even list with fear that it might look like an addiction, this is the first time i have wanted to pull my hair out of my head because of a drama.I just started to watch the china Republic era trope and this was my second one after "Fall in Love" whicth made it to my top favorite list,though i didnt come in with high expections,also i wanted to ignore comments and reviews which sometimes can mislead you or i was just being sturborn.I finished this one 2 days ago but i was still recovering from the trama it caused me,before writing a reaview.
To be honest Every character was well played by the actor assigned to it, even the extra did their job and mainly the ML Xiao Beichan played by Shawn Dou was outstanding and he is probably the reason why i stayed, He wouldn't match MArshal Tan XuanLi played by Chen Xingju in Fall in love but he has a commanding presence and he portray his character development well, from a spoil brat to an army academy graduate who became a leader of a vast army.His growth together with his friends was probably why many of us stayed.
His only weaknes was falling in love with a "stone" thais is the only way i can describe the FL character, she was so bad that i cant even go look up her name, i have never felt the need to summon writers as a viewer as I did in this drama, but am sure even the ML might have questioned why he was paired up with such souless character..I know its drama and fictious work but i dont beleive there is a woman out there so self centered that created misunderstandings whenever she turned,there was no peace around her, dispite being loved and cared for by the ML,his family and his friends, She was determined to only work with whatever was going on in her head which plenty of times ended up backfiring..
I agree the ML had some growing up to do, and once he did, he never looked back, he was stronger as the episodes moved but the FL had the same plans,same answers,same facial expressions from Episode 1-43, even when things looked promissing, there was no visible affection toward her husband,dispite showing everone else affection even the SML, i wont even try to talk about the SML , he was a mess,thats all i will say.
One last thing tht kept me watching and probably others,was the step mom of the ML,i beleive in history of dramas,there have never been a good stepmom like this woman, she was the matriach of the family,kept everyone together, she mended broken relationship, supoorted her husband who had a very big responsibility,she did all this while running a household with so many diffferent characters including the drama's biggest traitor..She the mother of all...
Overall, I will give this a 6 because of the ML and his friends but I will never seat through 43 episodes drama especially a torturous one.Second,I will watch whatever Shawn Dou is in cos boy oh boy,this man can act.Third,If you have short temper or low blood pressure,maybe skip this drama cos you might ge a heart attack just from the FL.If you need tears therapy,the last episodes will supply you with some onions.
In short,if there was to be a season 2, I would watch with one eye open cos this is one of those where there were so many deaths that one commentator said that the directors might have ran out of budget,they decided to kill everyone lol.
The production,cinematography,set and wardrobe get an OK but the OST was not up to the standard especially within the scenes.
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Heartfelt, captivating
Emotional, heartfelt, captivating, I wouldn't be able to stop watching it even if I wanted to.The only thing that upset me more than the ML losing so many of his beloved people, is the fact that he was utterly mistreated. This fact alone made me sad but at the same time it made me look up to him even more. Although a bit bossy, there were always good reasons behind his actions, justified every single time.
Well done to the casting, I was convinced by their acting skills, the plot was catchy and interesting from the beginning to the end.
That was indeed a true love in the flames of war.
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This review may contain spoilers
For two souls in love, nothing hurts more than being cut off due to obligations towards the nation.
I adore all the actors in this drama. From Aunt Qi, Commander Xiao, The twins, Shuyi, the scene stealer Cunning Mo and Doofus Xu, Instructor Du, and even the pivotal moments with Little Dou which act as a catalyst for Xiao Beichen to grow as a person.
Personally, this drama is my first take on both the lead role (most of the actors anyway). Nevertheless, I thought the acting is good and remained faithful to the script. I started reading the original novel written by LingXi just to understand certain prerogatives/actions done by actors in the story. Some scenes don't make sense such as why Aunt Qi suddenly ask Lin Hangjing to write scriptures even if her writings are definitely pretty. While reading the novel, I found that it was for Aunt Qi to use it to pray at the temple. The scene in the drama however looks out of place like a sudden afterwards scene added, though I shrugged it off later on just due to the twist and turns of the political situation in the story.
Although the earlier storyline is full of angst and various misunderstandings that could have been resolved had they both just sat down and talk it out like a normal couple. But I thought it was almost a normal reaction someone could have towards their other half, especially with the pressure of the surroundings from youth movements, the communist party, the central government and warlords. Let's just ask ourselves what could we have done while facing the evil machinations of Zheng Fengqi. Though it also teaches us that relationships could crumble when both party are too proud and stubborn with no backing down. "If only..." doesn't work in real life. Their relationship at the beginning is rocky but improves with time, especially with Xiao Beichen taking the lower road, leaving leeway for both as we can see on their first night as husband and wife, as both leads lower their heads and talk of reconciling when the scandal broke out when they place their trust in each other. Even in the event of Xiao Beichen's lie about her father came to light, Lin Hanjing tried her hardest to cross-check the information but she broke down amidst the painful memory of her father's death and the broken trust between husband and wife.
Do remember Lin Hangjing was only 15 years old when forced to leave the only home she was familiar with in Southern China and came to the cold Northeastern territory. Despite being treated kindly by both of her adopted parents, which teens will completely let go of their reserve and be completely free in a new environment? I felt heartache while reading so many scathing comments on how Lin Hangjing is ungrateful and doesn't deserve to be loved by Xiao Beichen. She only have 1 friend with that she could completely tell the truth about her hardship, dreams and aspirations. How could she ignore that 1 friend when he is in danger (referring to the assassination attempt of Commander Kang)? She has been living a protected life of a young lady. She might be talented, and smart in studying and writings, however, she is not well-versed in how the military game works. She might know the rules but she doesn't have what it takes to play the game. With the stakes and gamble required, she put on a brave front but still has fear in her heart when she is almost at the end of the rope (referring to when she was almost sentenced to death in court).
I love Chen Duling's portrayal of Lin Hangjing and Sheng Hanjun. She shows us the role of a high-class lady gradually transforming from the previously restrictive for women to a progressive semi-modern lady with aspirations for national revolutions. She has the right thinking of wanting to lift up all the women of the era and later on become one of the front-line ladies while playing Sheng Hanjun. It is not due to her having a special role thus she wants to play spy, but due to her wanting to do all she can to help in the revolution. From her earlier life, Lin Hanjing has worked as a writer that critiques the warlords and wrote an expose on the impacts of war, as a supporter of the establishment of the orphanage and finally as a school teacher for young girls of the poorer class. Needless to say in her role as Sheng Hanjun, she played the spy to foil the Japanese plan of winning the harbour construction plan and later on as the first aider during the war between the Ying Army and the Japanese.
I could not help but wrote more on Lin Hanjing character as most of the reviews/comments seem hell-bent on critiquing her as a woman stuck in hard places while living in a turbulent warlord era, a time between the two world wars.
Shawn Dou Xiao acting as both the playful 3rd young master and staunch soldier/guardian of Beixin City reflects the social situation in the warlord era. As the different factions grew restless due to greed for wealth and power, and internal and external conflicts, he remained faithful to the city he swore to protect. I don't have to say much but each scene with him left me at the edge of my seat due to nervousness, laughing so much or crying as I emphatized with how he felt. I cried a river at the last scene between these two leads when Xiao Beichen said:
"I'm just afraid I'd be reluctant to die when I see you".
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mixed feelings
I had mixed feelings about this drama because of the main female character "Lin Hangjing" whose guts I hated thoroughly until perhaps the four last episodes. Chen Duling is not at fault if the script specified that she should convey the impression of a deep frozen fish haughtily playing the role of poor orphaned martyr.Most female characters in that drama, except the peace loving Qi furen, were just awful snakes or stupid hens, in my opinion. As for the male ones, they were obstinate or for some, frankly evil, but at least had some or a lot of heroic spirit, which carried the drama. Shawn Dou was quite professional, and the character he played elicited some pity from me.
So it was still watchable, although I'll admit I was tempted to drop it several times, the compulsory romance ingredients including accidental kiss being, to say the least, not very redeeming here. Besides, too much was predictable in that drama.
The music, although not unforgettable, is good.
Despite all this unpromising matter, that drama still topped the charts the past end of May weekend, so the audience in China must also have found some qualities in the story and be fond or tolerant of "flawed characters" too.
I found the historical background interesting, so went to dig deeper for a refresher course on the Beiyang army, the life of Zhang Zuolin, the events from 1912 to the Nanjing decade and the story of railroads in the Dongbei until 1937, because there was a mention of a fish from the Songhua river travelling at great cost to the table of the Xiao siling 萧司令 (such details tickle me lol).
It also had me rewatch the 2016 movie "Railroad Tigers" (with Jackie Chan, Z.Tao and Wang Kai), although the action in that movie takes place on the southbound stretch of the railroad from Tianjin. Anyway that movie is well worth rewatching as an antidote to the worst of the irritating scenes in LifoW, like the totally incredible ace driving under gunfire on the wharf to save the life of a traitor and inflict a virtual slap in the face of the Xiao fusiling.
Since I stayed till the end and because the story triggered my interest in accessory watching and reading, I still give it a decent vote. But I doubt it could ever become my favorite go-to romance in Republican era setting.
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This review may contain spoilers
Hurting love and military heroism : life is a battlefield
How difficult it is to rate this drama ! If you are a Shawn Dou's fan (as I am) you will be magnanimous and give a 9. This love story is painful and bothering to watch. Military plots and revoltionnary goals in the chinese republican era give a very good background to this drama. Mistrust, hurting feelings and misunderstandings are maybe too much but it's something that couples have to face when one is stubborn and the other one too possessive.At first, we have a one sided love from the ML who is a bold handsome young man (Xiao Beichen) from a very rich family who falls in love with a girl who comes to live within his family. At first, he just makes a bet with his best friends that the girl (Lin Hangjing) will fall for him just like any girl who would meet bim ! She is the kind of girl who would be discribed as the perfect girl with the best morals and heart, caring for the others. She also is an intellectual with modern points of view. At first she can't help but despise Beichen because she thinks he makes fun of her and she doesn't value someone who acts just like a spoiled boy not caring for anyone but him. Actually, he is just the opposite but he wants to enjoy life and acts frivolous. He lost her mother at a very young age (she was killed before his eyes) and he is still heartbroken. His stepmother loves him very much and understands him. She is the one who knows that Beichen and Hangjing could be a perfect match because they are basically alike.
In this drama we have Beichen who is in love with Hangjing and wants to be her hero, that's why he will be so good at the military academy and on battlefields. He speaks his heart to her but she just doesn't want to see his love even though he puts his life in danger to save her many times. She can't see his deep and sincere affection and love because in her heart there is Mu Zizheng with whom she shares the same ideas. Zizheng is in love with her. For Hangjing, he is her soulmate, she can do whatever for him. Hangjing cannot accept Beichen's love because she misunderstands him and won't trust him. They will get married but "on paper" playing wife and husband in front of others but not sleeping together. This wedding was to spare Hangjing from jail and was Beichen's idea. Beichen always hope to gain Hangjing's heart. And he will.
Events will become darker as the story goes on, Beichem will become jealous and possessive and things would be really despicable when Hangjing is pregnant. Beichem thinks that the baby isn't his.... Starting from here, sufferings will be everywhere in the drama, the japanese pression will grow, military and spy actions will be more present. I won't spoil what happens further in the drama, it will be heartbroken. As a matter of fact, love demands some sacrifices just like a country needs to sacrifice some of his chidren when it is in danger. I really liked this drama from here till the end. Shawn Dou's great acting and sincere emotions are really to be pointed out.
Love and sacrifice in war time are so well depicted, I could even give this drama a 10 ! I really liked this sentence : "choose what you like and like what you choose " (even if your choice is wrong).
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INDEED
I'm not going to say much more than "CAN WE HAVE SEASON 2????" THE ENDING IS LITERALLY ??? LIKE DUDE!!! They wasted so much of their time together. I swear the director makes 5 years seem like 5 days!!!. Why can't they be reunited as a 3 instead of showing us a ship of Hangjing and the son only??? ALSO, THE TWO BFFS DIED!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE DUDE WAS Very EXTREMELY EXTREMELY ACTUALLY HAD A CHANCE WITH SHUYI AND IT JUST ENDED LIKE THIS. They must do a season 2 where they all reincarnate in a modern style, live a cool life, and meet each other.p.s: I didn't mean to write this much or to spoil but I can't submit reviews with less than 500 words TT
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Masterpiece!
To anyone who got lost here, I want you to know that this is one of the best Military Chinese dramas I've ever seen! I thought I'll be disappointed but it was great. I never thought that I'll fall in love again with military dramas after watching too much military dramas like Arsenal Military Academy, Arrange Marriage with Bossy Marshall, Autumn Cicada, Circle of Love, Operation Special Warfare, and more. It's been a long time since I got bored and nothing caught my interest until last week, I just searched on Youtube, Chinese military drama and I was scrolling down I was caught by the title and I felt like I found a gem. I started watching it then. It gave me satisfaction specially on how the story unfolds. I love all the characters because they gave justice to it. They nailed it! The casting was amazing because they portrayed it accordingly. There were a lot of twists and I have predicted some of them but it still gave me a surprising reaction because each actor delivered their lines and emotions naturally. The main protagonists, Beichen and Hangjing were very natural and I could really feel them especially when I looked at their eyes. Very expressive! Superb!My most favorite male protagonist is Beichen because of the fact that he portrayed his character professionally. It's like I'm watching a real childish guy who got inlove and was changed after he entered military. He became a wonderful and disciplined man. A man with values and principle. He didn't disappoint the people he love. He became the best and was sorrounded by a beautiful and supportive family. He was faithful and willing to sacrifice things even if it means he has to die. He was a good friend and leader. A faithful husband until the end! I just love him! And for my favorite female protagonist, my favorite one was Aunt Qi. She was so dear and loved her family. She was understanding and never meant harm to anyone. She was an instrument to let anyone in her family be connected. She was a wind who let everyone sleep peacefully. She was an amazing woman, a mother, aunt and wife. She's my fav!
To anyone who wants to watch this, don't let your guard down! This drama will play your emotions! Other times you feel happy, kilig, and laughed so much but other times, you'll get sad, cry so much and get depressed! You'll get your blood boil! There were parts that will let you stop breathing! They really portrayed their characters so well that you will have mixed emotions especially the climax part. Though this drama hurts me so much that I have to cry, I assure you guys that this was really one of the BEST Chinese Military drama! Their lines were touching and you can feel the heartaches of the soldiers and their family. It was not easy to protect the people you love, the country , your motherland.
Salute! to all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the protection and peace for humanity!
PS: The drama wasn't perfect especially the character of Hangjing because of misunderstandings and contradictions of her words but I assure you guys, she nailed it! She's a great actress! She gave life to Hangjing as what the writers wrote!
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