One and Only (2021)

A love story continues to living on.

I have been waiting for this drama for a while and once it is released, I’m so excited. I have to say that its quality did not fail me. Thanks to Allen Ren and Bailu, they portrait their characters so well and even though there are not much kinship but you can feel their chemistry is firing. Their eyes when they look at each other’s already tells everyone that they are deeply deeply in love.
The cinematography, the costumes are spot on.
This is a prequel to “Forever and Ever” which setting is in modern time. In the novel, their past story is really short and based on female lead memories but then when they made dramas, they made into two parts, past and modern time.
Please do not hesitate to watch it regardless of the ending because as it said, it’s not the ending yet.. their love continues on to modern time.

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It's a pretty dark ending

If you have depression, do not watch this drama. The ending is very dark: no couples are eventually happy, the country is thrown into chaos and yet another child emperor ascends the throne.

On a positive note, the support cast is good looking and does a very good job. There are some good music pieces.

I come across a lot of positive reviews of this drama but I think it is mainly because of Bai Lu and Ren Jia Lun, the current popular heartthrobs. The chemistry between the leads is excellent.

For most part of the drama, it is the romance between Cui ShiYi (Bai Lu) and Zhou ShengChen (Ren JiaLun), so there are a lot of building up of their romance and emotions. It is mainly all the lovey-dovey moment - loving each other and could not express and having to hold back, each with their constraints. If you are not into these, it is also very slow moving. Battle scenes are quite lacklustre as these are just secondary.

There are a lot of comments that the story is great but I differ in my opinion. I say the production and directing are great as it brings out a lot of emotions - if the ending is that dark, with good directing it is hard not for anyone to cry although I did not.

The story is rather strange and rather unrealistic. And here are why I say that:

1. Minister Cui Guang supported the child emperor to the throne expecting his niece Cui Shi Yi to become the next empress only to find to his horror that the new Empress Dowager has other plans - to keep her as crown princess by appointing the child emperor's elder cousin as crown prince. She has become the fiancee of the new crown prince instead. Unless this story is not of Chinese background but of some minority tribe - passing a fiancée to a cousin is hardly acceptable in Chinese culture much less appointing an elder to become a successor. But with a surname Liu, it is implying the Chinese Han dynasty. And why appoint an older successor - just to avoid marrying the mute Cui ShiYi?

2. Minister Cui then requests for Prince Zhou Sheng Chen to become his niece Shifu (teacher). Again very weird: pushing a young girl into the care of a bachelor prince although he might have vowed to stay single and not to have children. Perhaps for the protection of the Prince for the Cui family?

3. Prince Zhou stubbornly refuses to leave the entrapment when the conspirators uses the Liu royal family and court as hostages. Why would a general with a peerless track record of success on the battlefield be suddenly so stupidly bigoted. His military advisor arrives in time to save him. If his advisor is smart enough to come to the rescue, surely Zhou knows better to leave at the urge of his own team and his hostages. Eventually the hostages are massacred and he dies of torture. Why would a big 'killer' be so easily swayed especially since these hostages are not close to him? I expect him to be a better strategist.

4. When someone important jumps from the city tower, why do the soldiers not try to help but instead concentrate on driving helpers away.

These are all important turning points in the story. The development of the story is not naturally and is very obviously to dramatise. All movies and dramas dramatises, but there is a difference between doing it realistically or creating obvious conveniences, and this story sounds more like the latter - it needs great skills to do that realistically.

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Very beautiful tragic story

Oh how i love beautiful story where both know that the other person loves them so much without explicitly confessing to each other.. love which is not shown by affectionate words but shown by actions and their eyes speak louder than words that people surrounding feel it too.

What i liked
1.All characters and actors did a great job. ML and FL had such great chemistry without much physical affection.
2.ML character sticking to his traits till the end. He is not perfect. he could have done more for the palace and for himself instead of running away from it. But still he knows he is good at fighting and leading soldiers that way protecting people and does not waver from that responsibility. He is kind and cares for everyone around him. His love for FL you can see in his eyes.
I have seen too many shows where ML forgets his responsibility once he falls for FL and just shuns it at the end. For once i see ML decides to let go of his love for larger good. People might think he is spineless but that requires more guts than leaving his responsibility and run away. And Kudos to Allen for portraying a dignified person perfectly. I have seen so many actors who are either cold with arrogant face and then so soft as if the whole character changed but Allen shows just right amount of emotions required. Even small gestures are so in line with his character.
3. I loved FL character too although most people (Viki comments were filled with it ) thought she is useless.But considering the times where the story set in i found her character close to reality. I love rebellious FL once in a while in historic shows but able to fight with swords is not the only way of being brave or having strength. She was also kind and brave in her own way. If people are timid it doesnt mean they are useless!!
4. Ending I can say i am in peace with ending bcs they both die. I am fine if both die but i cannot handle if one of them have to live or one of them gets married to someone else and suffers. Atleast they both found peace together we can say.

What could be better
Show more on what exactly she learnt from her master. it was never clearly shown. she definitely didnt learn war tactics or fighting. Just mention of music and painting. If only they showed that equation between ML and FL it would resonate more with viewers
Some of the places it looked like some scenes were disconnected as such. Screenplay could have been better .
And Sheer injustice ML and FL till the end of their life. Justice was never served to them even if they united lifetimes after but thats LIFE so not much complain there

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The most tragic show I’ve committed to watching

I never (knowingly) watch shows with a sad ending. I did this time round, as I heard that this was just the prequel to their happy ending in “forever and ever” so I just had to bite my teeth and get through this…

2021 has really been serving us top titles, I wasn’t expecting one and only to make it to my “review list” but it hit me (or stabbed me) in the feels umpteen times, tragic feels like an understatement. I must pour my heart out in this review! Our lead’s relationship was destined from the start till end and the show saw us through that in 24 episodes which felt just about right since this isn’t really the main story.

SY was sent to be ZSC’s disciple and watching SY’s transformation over the years under his care was very gratifying. Of course, she also found a new family and they aided her journey towards healing. This show speaks volumes of loyalty — loyalty towards the country, family, comrades and even promises made.

ZSC and SY’s chemistry was one that could be felt even without skin ship - case in point, they barely touched each other but you can grasp their relationship through the screen. Props to both for a stellar performance! I gotta say, this is Bailu’s best work so far in my opinion. Unpopular opinion but I never found her acting to be particularly great, but this really proved me wrong. She translated her emotions without words (iykyk) and in a couple of heart wrenching scenes… her silence was deafening and my heart broke for her in that silence.

My only regret is watching this too soon. At this point of review, only 1/3 of “forever and always” has aired… now I will have to wait a full month for their happy ending :(

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A slow burn romance that makes your heart tingle

This is one of those rare dramas that I re-watched despite the sad ending (already known beforehand because it's adapted from a famous Chinese novel).

I recommend it because:-
(1) The leads are a relief for tired souls. Who doesn't like eye candies in dramas? As usual, Allen Ren looks gorgeous in costume dramas. He makes a good CP with Bai Lu here.
(2) The cinematography and designs are outstanding, gives you a sense of "ancient" - the attention to details such as the furniture , books, costumes, surroundings, etc takes you out of daily life's troubles/headaches.
(3) The OST is enjoyable, some of the best for 2022.
(4) The romance is slow burn, but romantic. No passionate kisses or bed scenes, but the director presents it in such a way that you feel warmth and good about the love story. I always believe that you don't need idol-like romance if it is well-carried out i.e. the top acting. A longing glance here, a smile there, the intensity in the eyes, many stolen moments....aren't they more exciting than the usual "straight romance"? The leads did a very good job here.
(5) The plot is well-carried out - i.e. the palace machinations, irritating scheming and politics are kept to a minimum, just enough to give the background to the story. No overdose of second or third leads either. It's all about the ill-fated romance between the leads.

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I was so intrigued by the idea of One and Only & Forever and Ever being a two-part drama with one set in historical times and one set in modern day. This review will only refer to One and Only on its own!

It took some time for me to warm up to this drama because of the pacing in the very beginning. Shi Yi (Bai Lu) becomes Zhousheng Chen's (Ren Jia Lun) student when she's in her teenage years, and from the beginning she has a moony-eyed crush on him. This is totally understandable because Zhousheng Chen is intelligent, poised, considerate, an excellent general, and of course, he's handsome. (Ren Jia Lun really looks great in this role!) The drama skims over these initial years so quickly and makes me wonder, what did Shi Yi even do during these years? Did she learn anything as his student?! Bai Lu does an excellent job conveying her adoration of Zhousheng Chen from the beginning, which is exactly what annoyed me because it never felt like a student-shifu relationship. It's more like she entered his manor and he took care of her...

Anyways, I didn't drop this after the first 3-4 episodes because of the crown prince Liu Zi Xing (played by Wang Xing Yue, who is only 19! I'll definitely be looking out for his future dramas). Liu Zi Xing is such an interesting character because he's trapped in the palace with little hope of actually becoming the future emperor. An engagement was long arranged for him and Shi Yi, and he falls in love with her just from gazing at her portrait--she's a light at the end of the tunnel for him, something precious to look forward to since he's treated poorly in the palace. But of course, Shi Yi isn't just a portrait, she's a human being with different feelings about their engagement. Although perhaps I wanted him to become a more likable character, his storyline is very fitting, because he's someone who gets in over his head.

It was around episode 9, when the battle takes place, that One and Only finally hooked me. Things escalated quickly, and it's the storylines of all the other characters that I found intriguing. There's Shi Yi's cousin and General Hong, which was honestly my favorite pairing of the series. Their scenes together were so memorable and heartwrenching. I loved the other generals under Zhousheng Chen, too--Feng Qiao, Xie Yun, Zhou Tian Xing. They were all so lovable! And of course, the runaway prince/monk was my favorite. I loved the scenes in which he gave Zhousheng Chen advice, and saw right through his true feelings. I also loved Shi Yi's mother and how brave and intelligent she was. It's because I loved these characters so much that I was motivated to keep watching and I'm sad that they don't return in Forever and Ever.

As for the villains and the political scheming, I don't always enjoy this part of historical dramas but I thought it was well-done here. There wasn't *too* much screentime for this aspect of the drama, but enough that it kept tension and suspense high. The Empress Dowager was a real piece of work, and I shook my head at her son.

I wasn't expecting to see Daisy Dai in this drama but I liked her character and wish she'd had a bigger role. (Why doesn't Daisy Dai get bigger roles?!) Another surprise was Han Cheng Yu, who I liked in Love and Redemption and really does a great job with characters that are a little quirky.

Thankfully this drama is only 24 episodes and the entire cast was excellent, or I would've dropped it!

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Sad ending but story was so good and emotional

First time I like to write first about acting . Too good really too good . All disciples acting were too good .they acted so naturally that I cried . It looked like that something happening in real and I am helplessly watching it . Last few episodes were so touchy that I can't help to stop my tears . I never want to see somei bad happening to good people in real as well in reel life .
After doing so much ill what Liu Zi Xing got ,he himself knew that he will die in three years but his selfishness not only destroyed him but also the ones he loved . Power really makes people blind .
Empress just to have power killed her own son . By watching few episodes I felt that first time emperor had no jealousy towards his uncle or hatred that he one day take his throne insist this he blindly trust his uncle but the emperor's mother in greed of power killed her own son . And what she got in return a terrible death. She tangled in her trap .
Story was good though I was waiting to see their chemistry ,their love story to start ,waiting to see them together but nothing happened like that which disappointed me .
First time it had happened that I like the story which didn't have happy ending and love story .
Really story was good . I already written about the acting of supporting characters but the main leads are main lead ultimate acting both male and female lead.
Ren Jia Lun's acting was too amazing . I love to see his acting.

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Absolute Masterpiece

Everything is perfect. I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I'm definitely going to rewatch this series again after the end of "Forever and Ever".

The main leads' acting and chemistry - simply put it, MESMERIZING, absolutely believable.

Cinematography, sceneries, etc. made to perfection.

For those who understand Mandarin, the language used, is very formal, as compared to the sequel "Forever and Ever", which is a lot more casual. The sceneries and palace shots, etc are way better, more beautiful than in the sequel, too.

This drama is an instant classic, although I'd have hoped for a different ending, not to spoil it. I didn't cry/drown my eyes like many other viewers, but I really felt the love and the pain throughout the drama.

This is easily my top 3 favorite dramas of all time, possibly my all-time #1 too.

It's a must watch.

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Love it so much!

This is a type of drama where you were aware what's going to happen at the end, but you still watch it anyway because it's so good. This drama gives you that silent painfulness. Though the female and male lead doesn't have much skin-ship, they make every little moment so memorable and sweet.
Though there is a season 2 happy ending, in the first life they both really deserved each other so much because of the pains they've gone through.
All of the songs is so addicting, you will feel so much pain rehearing each of the songs because it always bring you that memory of the male and female lead.

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Amazing acting from both ML and FL

When I saw One and Only available online to watch - I got curious but then I've read comments of how the story will be and I am one of the people who likes to check the ending first to see what will happen.

I then happen to read comments from people on the last 2 episodes of OaO (E23 and 24). I got so curious then I watched these last 2 episodes. I have then decided I don't think I will watch it in view of what's happening. I will just watch Forever and Ever. I've asked people on if I can watch Forever and Ever without watching OaO first. There were 2 people came back to me and recommended me that I need to watch OaO first so I can understand it better.

So on the weekend, I've started watching OaO - I am not one that would watch historical drama with so much political in it and especially with bad ending but for some reason after watching E1, I got totally hooked on it and continued on.

There is no romantic/kissing scenes in this drama but I tell you - by watching Sheng Chen and Shi Yi together, you can tell how deep is their love towards one another. They don't need words to show it!!
It is heart breaking to watch some of the scenes of them together and yet they both realized that they can not be together.

I also don't like Empress Dowager and Crown Prince (how he kept insisting to marry Shi Yi) when the engagement has been cancelled.

I totally love Allen and Bai Lu - they're really good playing their characters here.
I can't wait to continue watching Forever and Ever - I've heard that at least this drama is happy ending but from what I'm reading/seeing so far - them being together is going to be quite complicated as well.

I give a 10 for this drama and Forever and Ever. Strongly recommend for people to watch these dramas.

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