Apurva
This review may contain spoilers
A Do Over + Zhang Ling He + Zhao Jin Mai = A recipe for perfect drama!
Ep 1 to Ep 6: I have bad feeling. That it isn't really a a reincarnation trope but dream one, like the one in Scent Of Time, where by the end we figure out that there are no second chances or redos in life. You live it once, so you should live it well to not leave behind any regrets. From the first episodes, it was easy to see that there were a lot of misunderstandings between the leads. I do not like Li Rong in the 2nd episode at all. She humiliated him so much, it was disturbing to watch. That is not a lead character you root for, reminds me of Li Su Su hitting Tantai Jin when she returned back in time. Throughout the episode I kept wondering when they would figure out about their second chances, it is good that it happened earlier on. 3rd episode clarifies a few things about their previous relationship. There was such a lack of trust between them, when it was necessary to speak out for their relationship, Pei Wen Xuan remained silent . At the same time, Li Rong spoke over him, trying to save some dignity, claiming that she liked someone else. What Fools! In 4th episode, we find out that We Xuan knew that Li Rong thought he had betrayed her & didn't clarify because things weren't simple. As we get glimpses of their marriage, it does seem like he let her down a lot. He also admits it himself, maybe that's the reason he seems to like her & wants to protect her despite of the way she treated him when they started again. Zhang Ling He does so well in historical costume dramas. The glimpse of the lovey dovey memories makes me wonder when did it start going wrong. You can see that Pei Wen Xuan refuses to deny his involvement with Zhen Zhen, I wonder why though? I can only hope that he did not cheat on her. It is hard to come back from that.
Ep 7 to Ep 13: Oh what a mess! The only reason things didn't work out between the two is because they refused to trust each other and depend on each other. It didn't even take much to break them apart, just a little misunderstanding. Li Rong was insecure and did not trust him, Pei Wen Xuan cared more about his ego than their relationship. If only they had talked to each other and sorted things out, but no, who wants to be mature! That conversation in the rain was a long time coming and I'm so glad Pei Wen Xuan took that lead. I kept wondering why on the earth would he listen to her nonsense. All he had to do was deny it once. But in Li Rong's defense, it did seem like Wen Xuan had unresolved feelings for Zhen Zhen. He even said that she should have waited for him to sort through it. How long after being loved by him was she supposed to deal with his feelings for other woman? Even if those feelings turn out nothing but a habit that was mistake as feelings. Their relationship status was sure as hell complicated. I just hope that if this is not a dream, both of them make it by the end. I like watching jelaous Wen Xuan, at least he is not holding it in like the previous lifetime where he just let Su Rong Qing have her.
Ep 14 to Ep 24: What Li Rong did for Pei Wen Xuan was beautiful & a long time coming. Right now, I do feel like the script has issues, but the characters & the leads make up for it. It is especially good when Pei Wen Xuan decides to act all cute. Them claiming that they are besties is good way for them to start their relationship this time around. I wasn't worried that he had died but what worried me for a bit was that Rong might accept Su Rong Qing's proposal. That was too close for the peace of my mind. Su Rong Qing is either going to be a great help to Li Rong & Pei Wen Xuan or the biggest hurdle they have to cross in their way to stay alive for which they require power. Pei Wen Xuan sure is adorable when he pouts, the man is crafty. He has to be when dealing with someone as frustrating as Li Rong. Wow, I was right there with Pei Wen Xuan when she was struggling to express her feelings, but I felt for her too. So, I just want the two dummies to get together. So, Su Rong Qing gets a do over as well, that's good though, I felt like we should have seen what he got out of poisoning Li Rong if he really did it. But that part wasn't show and we were back in the past. Now we can get to know how he felt as he was poisoning her daily. What on the earth is Su Rong Qing doing? I don't get his actions. He is perhaps anticipating Li Rong's and Pei Wen Xuan's moves incriminating them but he has himself admitted his feelings and care for Li Rong. Here's to hoping he is actually trying to help Li Rong while doing away with Pei Wen Xuan since both of them don't like each other. It would be better if they join hands.
Ep 25 to Ep 34: I want to nitpick the plot and say that a lot of irrational scenes were put in to just cater to a certain audience. However, looking at the history of human behavior, we are not all that rational. We try to be but let go of reason when in bind. We react without thinking and so a lot of things Pei Wen Xuan does aren't all that insane. Li Rong, on the other hand seems so collected and exactly what is needed in situations like these. She doesn't panic easily. Reminds of the FL from Wonderland Of Love, where she kept busting heads with ML who wanted to run away. Why can't Su Rong Qing just join hands with our duo so that his family and all of them get out of it safely. Whoa there Li Rong opened the pandora's box asking Su Rong Qing who poisoned her. The answer was like she said disgusting. I'm so afraid for both Li Rong and Wen Xuan right now.
Ep 35 to Ep 40: I have gotta say the emperor is pretty heartless with no care for his children at all. All he sees is plots against him and his quest to hold on to the power. Li Rong claims that Li Chuan betrayed her, but did she not force his hands at times and treat him exactly like a pawn, interfering where she had no business interfering. It was sickening to watch when she tried to convince Li Chuan to get Shangguan Ya pregnant, even though he didn't have a care for her. He shouldn't have married her either if he was just gonna cast her aside. But Shangguan Ya was willing to do those things. To be honest, none of the key players were saints, they were all plotting against each other trying to save their own asses. The only characters I feel bad for are Su Rong Hua, Qin Zhen Zhen / Xun Chuan, and sometimes Pei Wen Xuan. Even though he didn't betray Li Rong, he was more focused on the power as well. It did end as expected, thankfully it wasn't just a dream but they did get their second chance.
We go to see so many actors shine in their role, from Su Rong Qing to Consort Rou, they did a good job.
Ep 7 to Ep 13: Oh what a mess! The only reason things didn't work out between the two is because they refused to trust each other and depend on each other. It didn't even take much to break them apart, just a little misunderstanding. Li Rong was insecure and did not trust him, Pei Wen Xuan cared more about his ego than their relationship. If only they had talked to each other and sorted things out, but no, who wants to be mature! That conversation in the rain was a long time coming and I'm so glad Pei Wen Xuan took that lead. I kept wondering why on the earth would he listen to her nonsense. All he had to do was deny it once. But in Li Rong's defense, it did seem like Wen Xuan had unresolved feelings for Zhen Zhen. He even said that she should have waited for him to sort through it. How long after being loved by him was she supposed to deal with his feelings for other woman? Even if those feelings turn out nothing but a habit that was mistake as feelings. Their relationship status was sure as hell complicated. I just hope that if this is not a dream, both of them make it by the end. I like watching jelaous Wen Xuan, at least he is not holding it in like the previous lifetime where he just let Su Rong Qing have her.
Ep 14 to Ep 24: What Li Rong did for Pei Wen Xuan was beautiful & a long time coming. Right now, I do feel like the script has issues, but the characters & the leads make up for it. It is especially good when Pei Wen Xuan decides to act all cute. Them claiming that they are besties is good way for them to start their relationship this time around. I wasn't worried that he had died but what worried me for a bit was that Rong might accept Su Rong Qing's proposal. That was too close for the peace of my mind. Su Rong Qing is either going to be a great help to Li Rong & Pei Wen Xuan or the biggest hurdle they have to cross in their way to stay alive for which they require power. Pei Wen Xuan sure is adorable when he pouts, the man is crafty. He has to be when dealing with someone as frustrating as Li Rong. Wow, I was right there with Pei Wen Xuan when she was struggling to express her feelings, but I felt for her too. So, I just want the two dummies to get together. So, Su Rong Qing gets a do over as well, that's good though, I felt like we should have seen what he got out of poisoning Li Rong if he really did it. But that part wasn't show and we were back in the past. Now we can get to know how he felt as he was poisoning her daily. What on the earth is Su Rong Qing doing? I don't get his actions. He is perhaps anticipating Li Rong's and Pei Wen Xuan's moves incriminating them but he has himself admitted his feelings and care for Li Rong. Here's to hoping he is actually trying to help Li Rong while doing away with Pei Wen Xuan since both of them don't like each other. It would be better if they join hands.
Ep 25 to Ep 34: I want to nitpick the plot and say that a lot of irrational scenes were put in to just cater to a certain audience. However, looking at the history of human behavior, we are not all that rational. We try to be but let go of reason when in bind. We react without thinking and so a lot of things Pei Wen Xuan does aren't all that insane. Li Rong, on the other hand seems so collected and exactly what is needed in situations like these. She doesn't panic easily. Reminds of the FL from Wonderland Of Love, where she kept busting heads with ML who wanted to run away. Why can't Su Rong Qing just join hands with our duo so that his family and all of them get out of it safely. Whoa there Li Rong opened the pandora's box asking Su Rong Qing who poisoned her. The answer was like she said disgusting. I'm so afraid for both Li Rong and Wen Xuan right now.
Ep 35 to Ep 40: I have gotta say the emperor is pretty heartless with no care for his children at all. All he sees is plots against him and his quest to hold on to the power. Li Rong claims that Li Chuan betrayed her, but did she not force his hands at times and treat him exactly like a pawn, interfering where she had no business interfering. It was sickening to watch when she tried to convince Li Chuan to get Shangguan Ya pregnant, even though he didn't have a care for her. He shouldn't have married her either if he was just gonna cast her aside. But Shangguan Ya was willing to do those things. To be honest, none of the key players were saints, they were all plotting against each other trying to save their own asses. The only characters I feel bad for are Su Rong Hua, Qin Zhen Zhen / Xun Chuan, and sometimes Pei Wen Xuan. Even though he didn't betray Li Rong, he was more focused on the power as well. It did end as expected, thankfully it wasn't just a dream but they did get their second chance.
We go to see so many actors shine in their role, from Su Rong Qing to Consort Rou, they did a good job.
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