This review may contain spoilers
A really good, carefree and funny e-sport drama!
The drama is really good!
As a LOL player, I loved the novel which helped me understood a few champions in terms of role and gameplay (ex; of Diana). Loving the universe of Riots, I loved the allusions to the game in it, and it really helped me get better in the game. Here's the novel for those who want to read it: (http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com/p/youre-beautiful-when-you-smile.html).
I'm not gonna lie, I was attracted by the fact that it was about League of Legends and was a bit taken aback when I saw that they used another game in it.
However, Onmyoji Arena was so well presented that I wanted to download it either on my phone or my computer (however it was too heavy). As I don't know the game, I couldn't understand the champions and their roles but it wasn't that important. I've tried to check out the champions on the game website; its pretty cool how they explain you how to use the abilities and combos which seems basics like that but can help you understand the gameplays in the drama.
A lot of people think TY is immature and doesn't really grow. I disagree with that! TY is a 22 years old graduate student in the drama (19 in the novel) and I'm the same and I perfectly understand her. She's straightforward and doesn't have the best temper so it makes her impulsive... however, she has a dream and she works hard for it no matter the difficulties. She stays true to herself and doesn't try to please everyone and anyone... she deals with her teammates issues like a real adult... she's not the kid you have to protect... she's a team member that got your back knowing you'll her back too. She's loyal to her friends and I like the way she intelligently helps them. Then if you look at the people she knew before being a professional player: Yang God, JinYang and Ai Jia... the 3 of them are even more childish than her but here again that's part of their age... they're at the beginning of their 20s.
Chen Xiao is cute, it's my first drama of her and tbh she's good for the role: she got the girly part when she cares about her appearance and stuff, and the childish part, when she plays and interacts with her team, but the way she matures through the drama is pretty good, u feel like growing with her.
I read some people thought that Shen Yue (Meteor Garden / A love so Beautiful) or Fair Xing (Master devil do not kiss me/ Put your head on my shoulder) would have been a better choice as lead actress... but tbh I disagree... If someone had said Wan Peng (My girlfriend is an alien), I would have say why not cause she often plays a girly-tom boyish character which could have fit with Smiling. However Shen Yue and Fair Xing? nah
For those who have an issue with Chen Xiao's acting, I admit, saying she's perfect would be lying, however TY is supposed to have a poker face quite often (according to the novel) and maybe the lack of expression of the actress does fit this aspect of her character. Honestly, like I said in a comment on the drama, do you remember Bella in Twilight? She's what I would call the perfect definition of lack of expression, the woman looked like she was constipated from beginning to end (of 4 movies)!
Xu Kai... I watched the Legends, I started to watch Court lady, and I'm currently watching Ancient Love Poetry (this drama is soooo confusing)... and by far Falling Into Your Smile is the best! I heard it's his first modern drama and tbh the role fits him.
The story is predictable in a way where it's a drama and like most drama we can determine the whole story by watching the trailer and the videos at the end lol. But it's also a bowl of fresh air as it's not stressing; the usual toxic moments are properly managed I think and there's a real reflection behind the use of negatives stuffs (gossips/critics)... I honestly hope that some fans could watch this drama, understand it and change their attitude after to be more supportive and less toxic...
The side characters are good and simple, Xiao Pang is excellent, his innocence and reactions make the whole comedic part. Lao K (Old K) is cool with calm and observing attitude. Ming Sheng, Rui Ge and Lao Mao (Old Cat) are funny too. Especially Old Cat, who's slow at understanding things!
Lu Yue and Kun are a bit awkard tho... too exaggerated? Idk there's something off with them... however they fit the drama too, Lu Yue by always appearing in the cute moments between the lead and Kun by being the childish but stubborn character he is.
S/o to the second characters (the bestie and her bf/ex-bf), but coming at it... I don't really know what social class Tong Yao is supposed to be but her Miu Miu and Balenciaga items makes it pretty clear she's far from poor... in the book they explain it as most of her branded clothes are from her bestie... but somehow she always seems to be wearing branded stuff in the drama which makes it less believable (I know it's surely the sponsoring of the drama but still). That's a minor detail...
I hope it helps you decide whether or not should or definitely should watch it! :*
I'll edit it later but for the moment here you go:
- Trailer of Episode 17 --> Chapter 64 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 18 --> Chapter 69 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 19 --> Chapter 72 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 20 --> Chapter 78 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 21 --> Chapter 87 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 22 --> Chapter 93 part 3-part 4
- Trailer of Episode 23 --> Chapter 105 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 24--> Chapter 113 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 25
As a LOL player, I loved the novel which helped me understood a few champions in terms of role and gameplay (ex; of Diana). Loving the universe of Riots, I loved the allusions to the game in it, and it really helped me get better in the game. Here's the novel for those who want to read it: (http://dhh-workshop.blogspot.com/p/youre-beautiful-when-you-smile.html).
I'm not gonna lie, I was attracted by the fact that it was about League of Legends and was a bit taken aback when I saw that they used another game in it.
However, Onmyoji Arena was so well presented that I wanted to download it either on my phone or my computer (however it was too heavy). As I don't know the game, I couldn't understand the champions and their roles but it wasn't that important. I've tried to check out the champions on the game website; its pretty cool how they explain you how to use the abilities and combos which seems basics like that but can help you understand the gameplays in the drama.
A lot of people think TY is immature and doesn't really grow. I disagree with that! TY is a 22 years old graduate student in the drama (19 in the novel) and I'm the same and I perfectly understand her. She's straightforward and doesn't have the best temper so it makes her impulsive... however, she has a dream and she works hard for it no matter the difficulties. She stays true to herself and doesn't try to please everyone and anyone... she deals with her teammates issues like a real adult... she's not the kid you have to protect... she's a team member that got your back knowing you'll her back too. She's loyal to her friends and I like the way she intelligently helps them. Then if you look at the people she knew before being a professional player: Yang God, JinYang and Ai Jia... the 3 of them are even more childish than her but here again that's part of their age... they're at the beginning of their 20s.
Chen Xiao is cute, it's my first drama of her and tbh she's good for the role: she got the girly part when she cares about her appearance and stuff, and the childish part, when she plays and interacts with her team, but the way she matures through the drama is pretty good, u feel like growing with her.
I read some people thought that Shen Yue (Meteor Garden / A love so Beautiful) or Fair Xing (Master devil do not kiss me/ Put your head on my shoulder) would have been a better choice as lead actress... but tbh I disagree... If someone had said Wan Peng (My girlfriend is an alien), I would have say why not cause she often plays a girly-tom boyish character which could have fit with Smiling. However Shen Yue and Fair Xing? nah
For those who have an issue with Chen Xiao's acting, I admit, saying she's perfect would be lying, however TY is supposed to have a poker face quite often (according to the novel) and maybe the lack of expression of the actress does fit this aspect of her character. Honestly, like I said in a comment on the drama, do you remember Bella in Twilight? She's what I would call the perfect definition of lack of expression, the woman looked like she was constipated from beginning to end (of 4 movies)!
Xu Kai... I watched the Legends, I started to watch Court lady, and I'm currently watching Ancient Love Poetry (this drama is soooo confusing)... and by far Falling Into Your Smile is the best! I heard it's his first modern drama and tbh the role fits him.
The story is predictable in a way where it's a drama and like most drama we can determine the whole story by watching the trailer and the videos at the end lol. But it's also a bowl of fresh air as it's not stressing; the usual toxic moments are properly managed I think and there's a real reflection behind the use of negatives stuffs (gossips/critics)... I honestly hope that some fans could watch this drama, understand it and change their attitude after to be more supportive and less toxic...
The side characters are good and simple, Xiao Pang is excellent, his innocence and reactions make the whole comedic part. Lao K (Old K) is cool with calm and observing attitude. Ming Sheng, Rui Ge and Lao Mao (Old Cat) are funny too. Especially Old Cat, who's slow at understanding things!
Lu Yue and Kun are a bit awkard tho... too exaggerated? Idk there's something off with them... however they fit the drama too, Lu Yue by always appearing in the cute moments between the lead and Kun by being the childish but stubborn character he is.
S/o to the second characters (the bestie and her bf/ex-bf), but coming at it... I don't really know what social class Tong Yao is supposed to be but her Miu Miu and Balenciaga items makes it pretty clear she's far from poor... in the book they explain it as most of her branded clothes are from her bestie... but somehow she always seems to be wearing branded stuff in the drama which makes it less believable (I know it's surely the sponsoring of the drama but still). That's a minor detail...
I hope it helps you decide whether or not should or definitely should watch it! :*
I'll edit it later but for the moment here you go:
- Trailer of Episode 17 --> Chapter 64 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 18 --> Chapter 69 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 19 --> Chapter 72 part 2
- Trailer of Episode 20 --> Chapter 78 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 21 --> Chapter 87 part 1
- Trailer of Episode 22 --> Chapter 93 part 3-part 4
- Trailer of Episode 23 --> Chapter 105 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 24--> Chapter 113 part 3
- Trailer of Episode 25
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