One and Only (2021)

A tragic love story

This won’t be your typical romance drama, and there’s not a lot of skin-ship. There were many times I would scream at my screen and say, “Kiss her you fool!” ;) But alas, Zhousheng Chen is too noble and honourable for that.

It’s a slow burn, melodrama with a tragic ending, so make sure you have the stomach for that. The storyline can be confusing, as the timeline goes across years in just one episode and next thing you know, ten years have passed! Also there’s a lot of families and clans so the names will be difficult to remember. It starts off a little meh, and the first half is lighter but as it progresses the conspiracy, power struggle, betrayal etc makes it darker and definitely more interesting.

I DO LOVE the cinematography! The settings are all so realistic and beautiful. The battle scenes are epic, very similar to LOTR (in fact one scene really looked like the battle at Rohan) and the orchestral music soundtrack is very very well done! It really moves the audience for the particular scene. Bravo to the composers!

Now as for the love story, it’s slow- but their affections run deep and although nothing was really laid out in the open, their love for each other was very real. From the happy glances to the intense looks; the gestures and gifts that he gave Cui Shiyi over the years; from how he is so protective of her etc... I only wish, really wished there was SOME skin-ship and some sort of utterance of love etc. Even if it was just one scene... sigh. Allen Ren was good, a little stiff I felt with not much variation in portraying his emotions. Bai Lu I loved!! Very beautiful and talented actress but I don’t know why her voice was dubbed. :(

The supporting casts were fantastic! Each had their own story and character development which were fundamental to the plot and storyline. I DO FEEL SORRY for Liu Zi Xing- as a kid he was being used as a scapegoat and took all the punishments for the emperor; he was promised the title Crown Prince but was denied it later; the woman he loved felt nothing for him; his health was poorly and in the end, he lost everything. Really sad :(:(

The ending [skip this part if you don’t want to read SPOILERS] :
1) Zhousheng Chen should have never trusted the word of a mad rebellious general like Jin Rong. When he was set up, he had enough manpower to fight back.
2) Cui Shiyi - ending your life also was not the right choice. You could have helped regain the armies and power to fight back and bring honour back to the kingdom.
3) I thought there would at least be an epic battle scene where the Nanchen Royal Army would fight back, but in the end it was just a brief summary. the last 15-20mins was kind of a let down.

Tbh, I didn’t cry at the end. Not like Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Youth of May- I was crying till I couldn’t breathe :( The next drama Forever and Ever- is a continuation of this story, where they meet again in modern times and Cui Shiyi has memories of her past life. One and Only is one of the better historical Wuxia dramas, definitely recommended. :)

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Sad but we will love the story.

I had postponed continuing this drama since episode 12 because at that time I watched the Taiwanese drama More than Blue and my eyes were very sore from crying a lot. a few days ago I continued watching this drama until the end, and right as I thought, I cried until I used up a lot of tissue. the story is very sad, even though I have watched forever and ever, but still, the sadness of this drama is very heavy and it hurts to see the ending of shi yi, his brothers-sisters, and teacher Zhousheng Chen who are punished. since the first episode, I was amazed by this drama which has very beautiful cinematography, the soundtrack songs that fits the drama, and amazing acting from the actors.
I'm giving 9 point for rewatch value because may be I need a time (a right time) when I need something to watch for crying, because a little bit heavy crying TT.
At the end of the conclusion, the sad ending is not always bad, this drama has a special place in the hearts of the audience because of the sad ending.

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Beautiful drama with sad ending...

I don't know how to express my feelings after watching this drama..the story line, superb acting, all the soundtrack and how the story brings me in to the drama make me feel hate, anger and sadness. I cried a lot, smiled and loved at the same time. I know this drama has a sad ending but I still love watching all the episodes, even though I cannot stop crying . Great job Bailu & Allen.
Aku adalah fans Bai Lu dari Indonesia. Aku sangat menikmati suguhan drama yang indah ini. Tidak sabar menantikan drama lanjutannya Forever and ever. Semoga drama lanjutannya membawa kebahagiaan buat Bai Lu dan Allen Ren. Mengobati patah hati fans di drama One and Only..semangat buat semua

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BEAUTY WITH BONES ,WHICH IS HARD TO FIND

So first of all the only complain i have is why it has so low rating here broooo( like i agree 8.7 is not lowbut still it deserves more like 9.5 maybe?).....like why the hell is it not 10

Overall: Honestly this show has just set tha hars so high rhat i don't think there's any other drama that can compete with this wether its cdrama, kdrama, thai drama or whatever like any asian drama can never be better than this for me ok not just asian drama but any drama any series any movie nothing can compare to thisssss....the drama was so sad yet sooo beautiful. It just feels like as if you're sitting on a rollercoaster ride of emotions...
I dont think i'll ever have enough words to desribe this.

Cast: the cast is just superb both bai lu and allen ren has done just superb job here ...they just made this feel so real...bro i cant i literally can't get over this one.

Ost: the ost is sooo very beautiful...like wether u talk about the rhythm or tge meaning both are just so perfect and goes so smoothly with the drama...damn like even when im only listening to the song it makes me sad it has that depth in the songs......

Rewatch: i've already rewatched it for 5 or 6 times and i still can't get over with this one....like how can someone not watch this i suggest each and everyone out there to watch this atleast once and you'll be hooked with this...even if you won't get hooked...but you'll definetly be bound to rewatch this atleast once.....

I literally have no words to desribe the series this one's good to just next level bro.

CAUTION: it'll make you cry real bad i cried for three days after completing this just remebering about the scenes....GIVE IT A GO....NOT JUST THE CHARACHTER BUT EVEN THE SERIES IS JUST BEAUTY WITH BONES......

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A VERY SAD CDRAMA! THE BEST!

This cdrama is the first and the only VERY SAD one (wuxia) I have watched. I am not familiar with all the casts but they're so good portraying their roles. The fighting scenes (even if not that many) are truly excellent. I love the story and twists from episode 1-22 but the last 2 episodes broke my heart into thousands. I love the lead casts for sacrificing themselves (their lives) for others (loved ones and people) even if it is just so unfair and heartbreaking. I love and pity at the same time their selflessness.

They're madly inlove with each other but due to some circumstances they are not destined for each other not until they died.

I am so grateful to have watched this cdrama!!!!

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A Heartbreaking Wholesome drama

This drama is filled with careful planning of the character and the plot. The ML is the ultimate prefect man u can get just that u can never get him (U will know y when u watch the drama). My ML is such a responsibly man for the country but that will also be what led him to his downfall :( The family relations among the ML and the 10 orphans that he lived with was also very wholesome. Everyone supports each other well :)

My FL is such a cute sweetheart even the mighty ML will fall for her. The FL seems to be a cute and innocent girl at the start but once she starts talking, you will realised that she is actually very smart and sensible.

However, I really hated the 2nd ML to the core(which means he did a good job). The 2nd ML is actually quite pitiful but his actions really make me erase my sympathy to him.

Everyone should know this will be a tragedy and u will cry ur hearts out at the ending..... I am so happy there is a part 2 to this drama in the modern world. Hopefully that will help to heal my broken heart for this couple.

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Beautiful Story and Beautiful Chemistry

I have read the novel and really like it. So when it was made into two different dramas, I was already very excited. In the book, their past story has too many plot holes, in drama, all these plot holes are well covered. Thumbs up!

The chemistry between Zhou Sheng Chen and Cui Shi Yi is adorable! Likewise the chemistry between Zhou Sheng Chen and all his students. The interaction between them made me feel like they were a family. And so cute too! Shi Yi was treated like a princess in the Xiao Nangchen Prince's residence, and was very protected. Make them look solid. It's a shame it's the plot demands that make their story sad. This makes their future (next drama) worth watching.

I feel so sad 'cause I know they will be separated by the plot and torn apart, even though I already know from the start how this story would end.

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The first ever drama that makes me cry a lot and makes my heart ache?

It’s been so long that I haven’t cried like this while watching a drama. This is the most beautifully painful drama I’ve ever watched. First let’s talk about the two main leads! I haven’t watched that much of Allen Ren dramas before so I didn’t know that his acting is this good. He’s so perfect and fit in with his character. Needless to say about Bai Lu, I know her acting is so great. I’ve seen her previous dramas with strong woman facade so when I see her with this Shi Yi character, I’m surprised by her versatility that she can portray any character or any role with ease. Here comes about the story or the plot of this drama. I heard this is based on the novel, I haven’t read it yet. So I cannot tell the drama is as good as the novel. Although I am watching this drama knowing nothing about the novel, I’ll give this plot 10/10. The development if feeling for each other goes with a slow pace. So if you like fluff romantic senes this is not for you. But even though there is not much skinship between them, I really like their soft gestures, meaningful gazes and soft romance. If feels like you are contented just by these because you can really feel their true love and how much they care for each other. Next, I want to give thumbs up to the production team for the beautiful cinematography. The setting places in the drama are so beautiful that I want to jump into the drama and watch those beautiful scenes together with them. Lastly, the OST! I like all the osts and they all perfect with the drama. There’s this OST(the duet one I don’t remember the title) I feel like my heart aching and my eyes crying whenever it comes out in the drama. So after all, I give this total 8/10. Why it’s not 10/10 is because I feel like my heart is so aching for the male lead. He doesn’t deserve any of this after all he had done for his country, and the people. There is no one left to clear off his name. At first I thought, the female lead would clear his accusation at least before she goes after him. But on her point of view, I can see that she can’t do much for revenge and may be cuz she has no strength to fight. So she just chose to goes after him. So it’s obviously a sad ending but I want you to give this a try even though you don’t like sad endings cuz it’s really worth the watch. You won’t regret it! It also has a sequel which is about their reincarnation story during today’s era. So you’ll have happy ending in that drama of course!

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Entertaining enough

This is not the melodrama or the tragic love story I was expecting but it was entertaining.

STORY:

- First part : How ShiYi ends up the "student" of Zhou Sheng Chen and the time they spend together or far from each other. How they grow fond of each other. The part is cute and fun. They obviously have a huge age gap and different levels of maturity but it made it even more credible.

- Second part : ShiYi leaves for the Capital of the Center State to marry. The plots and schemes for power intensify and they are caught in the middle. That part looked the usual historical palace cdrama with its numerous characters and schemes. It was enjoyable as it was clear and fast paced, not too convoluted.

- Love story : It is not a Love story. These two were no lovers. Master and protégée, teacher and pupil, fatherly figure and god daughter maybe, friends and confidants... Instead, it is a story of untold feelings. I liked how their fidelity to their duty and their love for their people led them to their demise.

CHARACTERS / ACTORS:

- Zhou Sheng Chen : I liked the character. He is a great general but also very human and caring for people. He has a nice personality despite the fact that he almost never smile. He is a man of his word. His priority was always his duty even before ShiYi. He had affection and feelings for her but he keeps them buried inside as he must do. It is his role and his fate. Allen Ren is a good actor and I liked his portrayal of Zhou Sheng Chen

- Cui Shi Yi . At first I thought she was someone smart and a fighter but no. She is just a little bookworm smitten by a great hero's figure. She slowly develops feelings for him. But she is also a filial daughter and she agrees to marry for the sake of her family. I always had the feeling that her love was more made of admiration than real love as she was always calling him her master. Bai Lu is great as a strong female or as a nice weak protégée.

- Other characters were interesting. I liked General Hong and General Cui's story. This was the real love story. General Feng and the monk were cute together.

MUSIC:

It was good but one thing really annoyed me. Why they used so many songs to create a mood and atmosphere but the lyrics were louder than the dialogue at very important moments? That totally spoiled these moments for me.

REWATCH VALUE:

Maybe not but it does not mean it is not good.

OVERALL: 9. It is a good story. Not Romeo and Juliet but the two leads are cute and endearing. Both from their own side, they were really torn between their duty and their affection and feelings. Their ending is tragic as expected but it is well made for both of them to the point you will shed a tear for sure. The ending is well done and the story is nicely wrapped.

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Good show, just have a few points to nitpick

Ok. Just finished this 5mins ago and i am burning with so much feels!

I’ll start with the good things about this drama. And bare in mind, i’m starting this show with 80% assurance that there will be tragic ending, so it’s not that the not happy ending is the thing that bugs me while watching.

-the chemistry between the FL and ML are thru the roof. From the first maybe 15episodes, they are still calling each other disciple-master, but somehow you get that theres more to them. No lovey dovey words, nor there are any kiss scene, but somehow, we know how in love they are. Which is basically what chinese dramas do best as compared to western ones (i hate when people kept commenting while watching chinese historical dramas for the leads to kiss already 🙄. Hello, this is chinese historical where basically for males to have a look at the female’s feet prior to marriage is considered taboo and disrespectful already, what more kissing or the french kiss you people from the west are clamouring for??)
-fight scenes are almost well executed and not cringey to watch. I’ll probably rate them 8/10
-costumes are aplenty and very beautiful for both the males and females. I especially like all the costumes for the palace scenes. They are all looking very majestic and flowy 😍
-the patriotism and ‘serving the country till death’ theme are very well potrayed and carried out thru the series.
-it’s quite refreshing to see such a character such as cui wenjun. She’s a matriarch alright, but still retain her humanity and respect almost all of shiyi’s decisions
-shiyi’s character is so mentally strong in my opinion. She is mature. She can still discern what she ought to do/her responsibilities as a daughter of a noble family even though she is head over heels in love. If zhousheng chen did not die unjust-fully like that, i bet she will carry on being such a powerful support to the country


Issues:
-the ML and FL’s look/beauty are something that grew on me. Not a fan of first FL’s look when she was younger but then she grows beautifully after. Props to the dresser/MUA. And i have a little issue with ML’s look initially due to finding him quite similar to Young Master Mo in Legend on Hua BuQi. Lol.
-the master-disciple love story may be slight disturbing at first, what with they equating them to ‘once a master, always a father’ sort of statement at start of the story, but then, with their narrow age gap and zhousheng chen being the ‘one woman man’ that he is, i grow to accept the love between the 2 leads afterwards
-liu zixing’s affection towards shiyi is basically creeping me out from start to finish. He’s complete obsessed lunatic i tell you!
-not sure what disciple shiyi is meant to be when she’s being sent to Nanshen Wangfu. I mean, it’s not like she has the build for or the motive for learning how to fight a war. The plot of master-disciple is quite shaky and unconvincing imho 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ok. That being said, what’s left is basically my biggest pet peeve regarding the plot!

Like, the hell with zhousheng chen??!!! I understand why he swore his earlier oaths like not setting foot in the central plain again and even not getting married and having child of his own. Truly, he’s a powerful Wangye. So, his oaths are just basically to remove himself from threatening the throne. But pray tell me what the hell is he thinking just basically surrender himself to slaughter by someone who are very clearly not fit for throne (liu zixing) and a traitor/outsider (jin rong) than claiming the throne himself and do right by the country??! If it’s only about honoring his previous oath, then he had no problem setting foot in central plain after he swore not to? And it’s not like he’s taking the throne from someone rightful, like his brother, or his nephew liu hui. Even the little emperor liu zizhen is forced to abdicate by the traitor liu zixing, so what kind of rightful emperor are you surrendering youself to?? I mean, that is just plain stupid and selfish of someone of his standing. He knows that he is unjustly accused and put to death, and knows that this will not sit right with the ministers and his uncles/elders (who btw are dropping like flies being killed due to his surrender) and also his battalions of Nanshen Royal Soldier and generals, who are obviously going to rebel in order to revenge him. What peace are you preserving by surrendering?? And did he even spare a thought to shiyi, his so called beloved disciple who are still, at his time of surrender, who is still trapped to marry liu zixing, the very one who ordered all this massacre?? He just goes on his merry way to death, like it is even honourable?? For me, at that point of events, the more honorable way to go is to put down the rebellion/traitor, pick up the throne and govern your country (you know you are better than the ones currently usurping the power. You are even from the royal liu family at birth, so it’s not like you are not qualified even though you already change the surname previously 🙄). You can even bring liu zizhen up and properly nurture him to become a good emperor and abdicate the throne to him later if you detest the throne so much! But he went the chicken route and surrender rather than braving the way and do the right thing. I mean, i kept on watching the coronation scenes so many times it drives me crazy! Hahaha. What ‘long live the king’?? No king lives that long in my opinion. Lol. And alas, the throne went back to liu zizhen, the child emperor who cant even govern properly by himself. 🙄🙄
And obviously, his decision will lead to shiyi’s death as no woman in love will stoop so low as to allow herself to marrying the one who she’s convinced killed the love of her life wrongly and is not the rightful ruler anyway. Anyone can see that. Daaaahhh 🙄🙄

And for god sake, liu zixing! The f* do you want the throne for??! You are obviously frail in health and will die sooner most probably rather than later, the hell do you want the throne for??! And basically killing all your Liu families by trying to work with Jin Rong when you know that jin rong does not even respect you and given a chance, will overthrow you for his own Jin family??

Finally, i found that the Yang Shou character is the most intelligent. Lol. Even if some of his actions are questionable, and even his loyalty is questionable, in the end, he push forward, knows whats he’s doing and his end motives are. He got his due as a general and can even appoint Liu Zizhen as the emperor in the end. That, zhousheng chen, is how an intelligent general works!

All in all, it is quite a good show and having a 24 episodes is just enough for the theme and plot (rather than having more and risk being draggy), but i dont think i will quite rewatch this in the future.

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Masterpiece I tell ya!

This is a real OG magnifico, extraordinary show! I laughed, I had frights, felt all anger and I freaking bawled to the point I had to stop eating my dinner!

The story line is great, the music? great, cast? Terrific!
Acting? Spot on!

This started off as a drama that you'd expect to be either cliché or soft.
But the story line developed and so did my feelings for the show.

It had me in and out of my freaking feelings, stressed out and thirsty for war!

Just to get it across... I AM NOT SATISFIED THAT THE CROWN PRINCE DIED FROM HIS ILLNESS! I WANTED THEM TO BURN IS A$$ ALIVE!!!

(pordon my french)

The music (ost) was good too, i liked the piano instrumental (background music) the most to be honest, even though all of them was good.

I think the did good with this show, i'll have to go find something cute to watch to help me move on seriously.

The costumes were beautiful too & none of the mens' wigs looked overly fake and I liked that.

The fight scenes? spectacular! Very detailed and seemed real.


i salute this show *chef's freaking kiss* man!

But tbh I rewatch value for me? 4/10

Why?
Because this show really punctured my heart and tried my life!
Thats why!

But watch it man, see what i'm talking about for yourself.

You shall not be disappointed.

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ONE BORING DRAMA..

First of all, I like Allen Ren and Bai Lu, I was super excited at first knowing they both would be in not only 1 but 2 dramas together. I can't help comparing Allen Ren with Seven Tan (Under the Power) which more lively dynamic duo than with Bai Lu. I can only blame it to the writer who created such a boring characters of MLs, one was quiet principled man and the other was a mute girl, when she got to talk she turn in to a shy modest high born lady, none of them has cheerful and happy demeanor so the drama painfully gloomy unrequited love story. Allen Ren is sweet and gentle man - for this drama's character though he's a bore as he supposedly a battle-harden General - bit older and mature but unfortunately he appeared more like a YOUNG reserve man devotedly in love. In my opinion, a General like Chen Kun, Luo Jin or Huang Xiao Ming or someone looking mature was actually a better fit as General. When Bai Lu character was young, Allen Ren character has already a matured respectful General, but Bai Lu character grown up - Allen Ren wasn't aged like there wasn't hardship this general face while wars he's been in that could harden any man's heart, body and life. Too much romanticism of soldiers...

Although they're really closed and cared for each other, their eyes lock in desperation but they did not utter a single word on feeling. The relationship between teacher and student was maintained, the courtship did not end happily ever after for the couple. All in all, this drama appears really slow and boring. The story line was ok, still flowing but not attractive in characters at least for me, the weather seems to predict one's future. It didn't make me sniff in sad scenes, being forced to engage to Crown Prince was actually burden for her meanwhile the General vowed not to get married and have kids. So, the man she love would rather be single, the guy she didn't love want her more than anything. After the edict of engagement, the General had heavy heart and started to question himself about his true feeling, he accepted the fact that She Yi was predestined to marry Crown Prince and wouldn't fight to find his own happiness while she'd marry up for filial duty. If he had the maturity of reality acceptance, the good looking in-love General taking in the hit of desperation and broken-heart as a man.

I like Xiao Yan the monk (Zhou Lu La) his acting very relax and real although he doesn't have important role but very significant. The young Emperor is a weak one, tears was the weapon he used often to against strong manipulative Dowager Empress. Actually I like the life style of Dowager Empress; very ambitious, dominant, malicious, harden heart, love to keep young men for entertainment. Without her attic , this drama would sink deeper. While the Crown Prince was also interested to become an Emperor, he's more keen to get married with Shi Yi, she's part of his goal in life. He's so happy to marry but abandon her in the altar, what a turn of event....and the end of this drama is..........well you guess it. Next is forever and Ever...I don't think I will watch it. I am done with this series.

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