I actually really enjoyed this drama but the last few episodes killed it for me. The storyline and plot was pretty ok- nothing too deep or crazy but it wasn’t bad. But for 25 episodes it was lacking MAJOR character backstories/storylines.

The main leads chemistry is the only thing they got right. I saw a lot of complaints about the “age gap” between FL and ML but I mean it actually makes sense! Obviously the ML was older by quit a bit- it took him 10 years to unite all of the 9 lands- not counting the time it took him to go from commoner to general so he was at least 30+ when the storyline started, most likely closer to 40+. The FL was obviously MUCH younger- especially considering that she was older then Rui by 4 years and Rui was still considered a child- barely stepping into adulthood. Which was the norm back in the ancient world, especially when it came to royalty. They balance each other and push each other to grow.

For me the music- or lack thereof ruined so much ruined so much. There were a few scenes that were meant to be impactful and powerful but they fell soooo short! Music is what often gives the perception of the seriousness or the importance of the scene. Instead the moments that were supposed to be most memorable were memorably disappointing. For example: Yu Wuyou gathering the clans together and uniting them or the final battle- they’re supposed to be such a powerful moment but the music is literally at the level equivalent to a kid playing a recorder- annoying, irritating, ill fitted and ill played.

I already mentioned at the beginning the plot was actually pretty good, so what was the problem with it later on? In the last few episode, there is a portion about time travel where the ML travels back in time to save Rui. When both her and the emperor travel back, they both managed to change the outcome. She becomes the chosen bride for the emperor and sets off with him. Rui doesn’t leave her tribe/home. But due to infighting, she still dies, and so do a lot of her tribesman. But there is no confrontation between Chao and Yerebe, the ML actually goes out to save them because he knows how important Rui is to the FL. That means that there is no conflict between the ML and the people of the FL, he never banished them or enslaves them instead he’s offering protection to those left. That would also mean that the FL become the empress shortly after they arrive at the city, she does not enter the astrology department and that changes the whole plot. Instead they build it up to this and then forget all about it. Which makes absolutely no sense and feels like a total waste of time.

Now let’s talk about the other 2 issues: FL celestial power and Yu Wuyou.

According to the plot the FL has her celestial powers locked at 10 due to seeing visions of the future, they’re usually negative. So she has her powers sealed and gets the reputation of being “cursed” in her tribe. Help me make sense of this- her father is a deer as well and is more or less a magician, meaning he has similar gifts since he was able to foretell her destiny and some of the other events. Yet he encourages the hate of her tribe against her? It’s makes no sense! If she was the only one like that in her tribe, that would make sense but she’s not and her own father hold a high position so all of her powers should be nurtured instead by him. Even with that aside she later unlocks her powers and they make it pretty clear that prior to that when her powers were sealed she couldn’t use them at all, yet they also make a point that she only made it into the astrology department due to them- while they were still sealed? And all of a sudden once they’re unsealed she just doesn’t use them and lets events occur that are pointless or which for she has no anticipation for?

Now my biggest bone to pick- Yu Wuyuo. He’s actually the most interesting character- he has the background, history and goals to have been one of the most memorable. He is the only prince left of the Winged Clan that meet the FL after the fall of his clan and spends significant time in her tribe and with her. The backstory of him and the Winged Clan alone could have carried this drama if they writers did a good job- they didn’t. It’s based in a fantasy world where they have the Winged Clan and other unique clans. They could have shown the backstory of Yu Wuyou and build it up to why he hates the emperor and build up the love story between him and the FL- they didn’t. That made the storyline pretty empty, especially considering that he’s the only one going against the ML! He falls in love with her during his stay- he falls in love with a “cursed girl” (FL) , him and Rui are the only 2 people that are actually the FL friends and that even interact with her. She obviously got bullied badly by the members of her tribe so it would have made sense to show maybe how he protected or stood up for her, in general more interactions between the two of them. It would have even made sense if she was in love with him or had a huge crush on him or even if they were engaged and when the whole marriage selection happened he was away and that’s what spurred his hatred towards the ML and the start of his rebellion. Instead we get TWO flashbacks, all with Rui. Yes she’s important for the whole while she’s there but she doesn’t FIT the narrative in what they use the flashbacks for.

Now the issue with how much they missed with the Winged Clan- they have WINGS. It would make sense if their cities were build on mountain peaks- it would have been really incredible to see. They would have also had mages/arrays protecting it since magic and arrays exist and YW is clearly knowledgeable. So how did they lose the war with the ML? What if the other Winged tribes? Was the spear damaged during that war? Also how in the world are there members of the winged clan serving as the ML captain of the secret guard and yet have no restrictions- like the moon spell that is suppose to affect anyone that’s not loyal to the clan?

Now the most disappointing part- THE FINAL BATTLE. It’s so badly written!! YW partners with FN to kill the emperor. Their biggest advantage is aireal battle due to their wings and the spear. So an attack would have made sense if they attacked from the sky directly where the ML was. Instead they WALK in and trudge all over the palace. And THEN YW and ML fight INSIDE. YW has to be an idiot to do that! His biggest advantage is his wings so why in the world would he take up fighting in the throne room that has a bunch of giant pillars and limit his mobility? Or why would he have his wings opened if he’s not using them during the fight and ends up clipping them against the pillars? Or better yet why does he receive a critical hit on his left shoulder/upper chest- whats critical there- nothing for a normal human but is there something critical for the winged tribe????? At worst it’s a bad injury but it kills him-what????

How badly YW character was written was honestly the biggest loss- he was hands down one of my most favorite characters in through the whole 23/24 episodes and they ruined him at the end.