Marina Fomina
Saint Petersburg
Really promising in the beggining, dragging at the end...
This drama has started all that promising - wartime Shanghai, spies and agents and special secret tasks. But got boring by the second half of the drama and failed to fulfil its potential.((
In the beginning, It was full of style - smart ML, unexpected turns, suspension moments when you really get anxious about the main heroes, and really want to know how on earth could they get out of that difficult situation that they got dragged into. There also have been quite an interesting love triangle situation developing. From the beginning of the drama, I have really been anticipating the moment when ML (Chen Shan) will become a double agent, thinking of the intricate mind games that he would play with the antagonist - Japanese special service agents. But, I was disappointed (((
The second half of the drama, when he actually became a double agent, has became not more entertaining and smart, but actually lost a lot of sense. No mind games between Chen Shan and Main Antagonist - Araki. Actually, the ways in which Chen Shan have been triking Araki have become really stupid, and for Araki to actually trust Chen Shan in those cases - just right away non-believable...
By the 35th series, the story became a little too boring and, like they're dragging it along with not much to say. I feel this is a problem of many Chinese dramas, they just don't feel when it's time to wrap up the story. So until some moment around 2/3ds, the drama is fine but then at around 30-35th episode, it becomes unbearable to watch at the same time you want to know how things will end. So you're just watching and thinking WHEN will this finally END...
The good points though are - beautiful and stylish costumes especially could be appreciated if you're a retro-lover. The actor's play was good as well, the characters are realistic and a bit more complicated - not just two dimensional beings. Zhang Ruo Yun is always good in every movie he plays, so he made his character interesting and someone to feell for. I also really liked the character of Adi Kan (Yu Xiao Wan) she's sassy but kind-hearted, brave and naive but smart.
Since I didn't finish it and dropped at the 35th series, am I really qualified to make conclusions?
All in all, it was interesting to watch until around the 30th series but did not worth the time after that.
In the beginning, It was full of style - smart ML, unexpected turns, suspension moments when you really get anxious about the main heroes, and really want to know how on earth could they get out of that difficult situation that they got dragged into. There also have been quite an interesting love triangle situation developing. From the beginning of the drama, I have really been anticipating the moment when ML (Chen Shan) will become a double agent, thinking of the intricate mind games that he would play with the antagonist - Japanese special service agents. But, I was disappointed (((
The second half of the drama, when he actually became a double agent, has became not more entertaining and smart, but actually lost a lot of sense. No mind games between Chen Shan and Main Antagonist - Araki. Actually, the ways in which Chen Shan have been triking Araki have become really stupid, and for Araki to actually trust Chen Shan in those cases - just right away non-believable...
By the 35th series, the story became a little too boring and, like they're dragging it along with not much to say. I feel this is a problem of many Chinese dramas, they just don't feel when it's time to wrap up the story. So until some moment around 2/3ds, the drama is fine but then at around 30-35th episode, it becomes unbearable to watch at the same time you want to know how things will end. So you're just watching and thinking WHEN will this finally END...
The good points though are - beautiful and stylish costumes especially could be appreciated if you're a retro-lover. The actor's play was good as well, the characters are realistic and a bit more complicated - not just two dimensional beings. Zhang Ruo Yun is always good in every movie he plays, so he made his character interesting and someone to feell for. I also really liked the character of Adi Kan (Yu Xiao Wan) she's sassy but kind-hearted, brave and naive but smart.
Since I didn't finish it and dropped at the 35th series, am I really qualified to make conclusions?
All in all, it was interesting to watch until around the 30th series but did not worth the time after that.
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