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This review may contain spoilers
Great Sequel
The second season closely adhere to the original novel, with slight changes which I truly prefer much more than the novel. The adaptation changes actually gave more humanity to Ye Hongyu and shows the strength of the Three Addicts, which is very admirable. The changes also made the story tolerable because the novel is super lengthy with draggy scenes. Im pretty much happy with the cuts the adaptation had made where they skip those draggy scenes without jeopardizing the main plot. Although many people say that this season is draggy, for those who reads the novel would know that this is already shortcut compared to the novel! The production team did a brilliant job indeed!
Although there were numerous actor changes, for me its not much of a distraction. However I still liked to see Arthur Chen as Ning Que more than Dylan Wang. Generally Dylan's acting is ok, he definitely able to nail it as the NQ who is matured yet lovesick as depicted by novel writer. Its just that I feel that Arthur suits Ning Que more, I guess. Dylan just didnt have the 'air' that Arthur gave off on screen. Also the character change of NQ from season 1, from cheeky, mischievous, filled with grudge, shameless to matured, slightly dumb and love sick boy in season 2, is exactly like the novel writer wrote him to be, so I saw nothing wrong with Dylan's NQ unlike the other complaints. Dylan nailed it, Arthur also nailed it, but I felt the NQ character is somewhat made for Arthur, rather than Dylan, that is all.
The rest of the actors did amazing job, and I actually liked the mischievous Emperor of this second season more than the lofty one in the first season hahaha. The actress who played Ye Hongyu and Lu Chen Jia were superb! The current Lu Chenjia gives off strong air of Flower Addict, and her character is more believable and tolerable than the Lu Chenjia in the novel. I really liked the changes that the screenwriter made on her character development. Current Ye Hongyu shows a stronger front and air than the previous one in season 1, although I have to say YHY in season 1 is much more beautiful than Season 2. But regardless of that, I loved the season 2 YHY than the YHY in the novel and Season 1 YHY (I feel like that novel YHY acts more like the devil than someone devoted to Tao). Needless to say, I truly love Mo 'mary-sue' Shanshan. Her willingness to step back and watch NQ and SS be together for once, doesnt look forced or fake. It actually felt sincere and the actress did so well! The way the novel writer did it in the novel is amazing, and how the actress portrayed this character is super accurate with no cringe-worthy scenes. Gosh, I love Mo Shanshan!
Mr First, Mr Second and Miss Third are amazing trio, exactly as depicted in the novel. Oh god I truly love the Academy people. They're true family even though NQ only walked into their life a little over a year and yet theyre willing to sacrifice everything for him. The adjustment for Tang Xiaotang's scene rescuing Chen Pipi is a total blunder though. IN the novel she was supposed to be this truly strong lady character with body made of steel, she was supposed to freaking defeat the Papal cavalry guarding the Peach Mountain forgodsake, and arrived at Chen Pipi all bloody and heroic, and yet on screen, the rescue was made as pathetic with her running and stumbling all over while calling Chen Pipi's name like some lovesick maiden. What a disappointment!
However, I especially love the adjustment from the novel where the screenwriter actually included reunion of NQ and General Ma Shixiang. I was so disappointed by the novel because they never met after NQ left Wei Cheng for the Academy exams. Delighted as hell when I saw the series actually included tonnes of scenes between the two. That actually gives some closure to the readers who would love to see the father-son-like interaction between them.
The only thing thats lacking is the battlefield scenes. They're ridiculously cheapskate! Where the novel says THOUSANDS of cavalry, I can see only 30-40 people at most on screen. And the scene where the King marches into battle out of Wei Cheng, how come there's only 20-30 people escorting him? Where are the thousands of elite soldiers? And the heavy armour cavalry ambush, my god, THAT IS NOT HOW HEAVY ARMOUR CAVALRY LOOKS LIKE! How come the invincible heavy armoured cavalry thats feared throughout the land dresses exactly like NORMAL light cavalry? Where are the heavy armour that needs constant maintenance which only Tang could afford?? Gosh, The production team should learn a thing or two from Princess Agent, Eternal Love or even Ashes of Love team when it comes to battle scenes. Ever Night battle scenes are truly pathetic and disappointing!
Anyway, Cant wait to see season 3. and I hope Arthur comes back to the team....
Although there were numerous actor changes, for me its not much of a distraction. However I still liked to see Arthur Chen as Ning Que more than Dylan Wang. Generally Dylan's acting is ok, he definitely able to nail it as the NQ who is matured yet lovesick as depicted by novel writer. Its just that I feel that Arthur suits Ning Que more, I guess. Dylan just didnt have the 'air' that Arthur gave off on screen. Also the character change of NQ from season 1, from cheeky, mischievous, filled with grudge, shameless to matured, slightly dumb and love sick boy in season 2, is exactly like the novel writer wrote him to be, so I saw nothing wrong with Dylan's NQ unlike the other complaints. Dylan nailed it, Arthur also nailed it, but I felt the NQ character is somewhat made for Arthur, rather than Dylan, that is all.
The rest of the actors did amazing job, and I actually liked the mischievous Emperor of this second season more than the lofty one in the first season hahaha. The actress who played Ye Hongyu and Lu Chen Jia were superb! The current Lu Chenjia gives off strong air of Flower Addict, and her character is more believable and tolerable than the Lu Chenjia in the novel. I really liked the changes that the screenwriter made on her character development. Current Ye Hongyu shows a stronger front and air than the previous one in season 1, although I have to say YHY in season 1 is much more beautiful than Season 2. But regardless of that, I loved the season 2 YHY than the YHY in the novel and Season 1 YHY (I feel like that novel YHY acts more like the devil than someone devoted to Tao). Needless to say, I truly love Mo 'mary-sue' Shanshan. Her willingness to step back and watch NQ and SS be together for once, doesnt look forced or fake. It actually felt sincere and the actress did so well! The way the novel writer did it in the novel is amazing, and how the actress portrayed this character is super accurate with no cringe-worthy scenes. Gosh, I love Mo Shanshan!
Mr First, Mr Second and Miss Third are amazing trio, exactly as depicted in the novel. Oh god I truly love the Academy people. They're true family even though NQ only walked into their life a little over a year and yet theyre willing to sacrifice everything for him. The adjustment for Tang Xiaotang's scene rescuing Chen Pipi is a total blunder though. IN the novel she was supposed to be this truly strong lady character with body made of steel, she was supposed to freaking defeat the Papal cavalry guarding the Peach Mountain forgodsake, and arrived at Chen Pipi all bloody and heroic, and yet on screen, the rescue was made as pathetic with her running and stumbling all over while calling Chen Pipi's name like some lovesick maiden. What a disappointment!
However, I especially love the adjustment from the novel where the screenwriter actually included reunion of NQ and General Ma Shixiang. I was so disappointed by the novel because they never met after NQ left Wei Cheng for the Academy exams. Delighted as hell when I saw the series actually included tonnes of scenes between the two. That actually gives some closure to the readers who would love to see the father-son-like interaction between them.
The only thing thats lacking is the battlefield scenes. They're ridiculously cheapskate! Where the novel says THOUSANDS of cavalry, I can see only 30-40 people at most on screen. And the scene where the King marches into battle out of Wei Cheng, how come there's only 20-30 people escorting him? Where are the thousands of elite soldiers? And the heavy armour cavalry ambush, my god, THAT IS NOT HOW HEAVY ARMOUR CAVALRY LOOKS LIKE! How come the invincible heavy armoured cavalry thats feared throughout the land dresses exactly like NORMAL light cavalry? Where are the heavy armour that needs constant maintenance which only Tang could afford?? Gosh, The production team should learn a thing or two from Princess Agent, Eternal Love or even Ashes of Love team when it comes to battle scenes. Ever Night battle scenes are truly pathetic and disappointing!
Anyway, Cant wait to see season 3. and I hope Arthur comes back to the team....
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