ArtemisPrime
A Refreshing Addition to the Xianxia Genre
Some watchers might be put off initially by this drama's unusual approach to the xianxia genre and indeed I've seen it described by a few viewers as too "silly for a xianxia drama". However I find it absolutely refreshing because for a genre that is renowned for excessive melodrama, this one decided to do something different by following the comedic route. The jokes are timed well and the actors manage to pull them off without coming off as cringy. It's almost as though the writers don't the viewers to be depressed for too long because most sad scenes and tear inducing scenes are usually followed up by lighter scenes. The near perfect balance between comedy and angst is really impressive.The appearance of common tropes of this genre like unnecessary sibling rivalry/jealousy, love triangles, jealous fangirls, amnesia etc are either non-existent in the drama or are not allowed to overstay their welcome and are resolved very quickly without testing the viewers patience.
The CGI while not the very best the industry has to offer is good enough and it's obvious that a lot of money has been spent on it. The OST also features some of China's best musicians.
The best thing about the drama is the actors. From Chen Xingxu who played 5 different versions of one character so well enough to make you believe they were actually different people to Li Landi that stepped out of her comfort zone to play a comedic role and also moved us all to tears with her crying scenes. He Xuanlin was amazing as the absolutely gorgeous, intelligent and righteous Qingkui and Chen Muchi stole all our hearts with his gorgeous face and devilish charm. Even the supporting actors made us endeared to their characters and root for them.
The ending while being a happy one leaves something to be desired. However, it's no fault of the production team but could be as a result of the greed of streaming platforms. Conclusively, it's a memorable drama that would enter the top 10 lists of a lot of viewers.
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Best Costume Drama of the Year
I didn't plan to watch this drama initially because although I knew the leads, I hadn't really cared to watch any of their previous work but the trailer was so beautiful that I just had to put it on my watchlist. I'm happy to say that this has become my second favourite Cdrama of all time.Even from the trailers, it's so easy to see the amount of resources put into the show. The cinematography, sets, lighting, costumes, colour grading is EXCELLENT! All these things would have meant nothing if the actors were terrible or not good enough but they have been simply amazing and I've become a devoted fan of everyone of them (including the secondary characters). It's like everyone was putting their best foot forward in this drama.
The story is very engaging and although I've seen complaints from other watchers about its slow start, I didn't feel that way to me as I felt the pacing was good enough. The wait for new episodes was somewhat excruciating because the plot is SO good even though the stakes aren't particularly high.
The chemistry between the leads is AMAZING and so sweet, I find myself smiling so much that my cheeks hurt everytime they're on the screen. Even though their romance is a slow burn, it's the best kind of slow burn because you can just see the sparks sizzling between them.
The only complaints I have are rather minor- a particular (comedic?) scene between the leads and a spooked horse and the use of rock music as a background ost in a period drama. They don't affect my enjoyment but they kind of throw you off considering the setting of the show.
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