A Decent Drama Whose Potential Was Squashed

My first review 👀.

SPOILERS AHEAD.




Xu Kai's dramas tend to have bad luck with censorship it seems. It's very clear there were things cut and removed, 12 episodes are just gone from the original 48. Most of the adventure was lost in those episodes, as well as the wrap up of the story. There was definitely a lead up to that final scene, a lead up that we will never ever see. There was a BTS picture and video where Wu Shuang was dressed in regular, non-sect attire that we didn't witness, so something was missing. My frustration with Chinese censorship is immense. Supposedly, tomb raiding was banned because why not. I'm sure Chinese people would start breaking into tombs because of a drama [sarcasm].

It can't be helped though. The drama unfortunately suffered from it. But I genuinely cannot stand the censorship aspect of China. It's gotten to the point that I would love to get rid of it. Personally. Imagine being a director, you have this vision, and the story you wanted to tell just...gets chopped up? It's insane. How about the crew that probably worked hard to create the tombs that never saw the light? The actors' work? The unfairness is maddening.

Anyway...unto the nit and grit of what we WERE able to see -

Favorite characters: Ding Yun Qi and Luo Yun Song, of course. They ran this. If anything, I feel they even shared the narrative since the mysteries concerned them both. They also had the most effective relationship in the series. They went from enemies (mostly on Yun Song's side), to tsunderes who had respect for each other, to almost full brotherhood affinity. They also had to father around children throughout this entire drama. Respect to the stress they experienced. Especially Yun Song. Good gawd.

Shout out to the amazing, badass Cui Yan Zhi for being the only female who wasn't childish, didn't throw tantrums about engagements they didn't comprehend, and wasn't naive, ignorant, or acted like a 10 year old. You had a good head on your shoulders. I missed you in the finale...well, rather the last 10 episodes, but your presence shall never be forgotten, I swear. Since Yun Qi had to be thrown to the FL, I hope you found a good man.

Bravo to all the actors, no matter the character they played. You all did great.

Romance: ...lol. I've gone over it a million times, but not a fan, and not convinced. A mismatch all around. Having to deal with outbursts, to deal with painful words said to him, etc. Half the time I felt he was talking to a juvenile, who he kisses and marries. I suppose Asian men find "cuteness" endearing? I don't have to like everything that involves Xu Kai, which I see people tend to defend when it doesn't work out with him. No one has to like his FL. No one has to or is forced to like his pairing. Especially if it's simple criticism. I don't need to hear excuses every time about why the FL is the way she is as if that justifies her from her behavior and temperament. I KNOW why she is the way she is. I don't need the unnecessary mansplaining. It just doesn't change that they are incompatible, personally. I don't think this would work in real life.

Xu Kai kisses are fire though. That I can always count on. If he managed to pull out chemistry from what was essentially a plank of wood in Falling Into Your Smile, he can do anything.

I don't think it's the worst CP for Xu Kai, that goes to Sandrine Pinna. But it definitely ranks on the bottom half. Since romance wasn't the focus (and they should have kept it at no romance like the novel), it was passable. But then that leads us to the...

Story: I found the narrative compelling and interesting. The lore and world building were being done gracefully. It was slow paced, yet like I said way in the beginning, when a show or movie is slow paced, it all rides on how the story ties into a satisfying end where it all comes together. There was a build up, steadily, TO something. No doubt we were supposed to see more of the exploration, of the Kunlun Mountains and the mysteries the drama set up. The Luo family debacle got closure, and that goes along with our dear Shifu. Everything else? No explanations. I feel those are forever gone in the episodes not uploaded. The only hope I have are possible leaks yet that's near impossible. If only the dark web could help...

Nonetheless, that ruined the momentum, and the narrative suffered as a result due to the cut scenes. We literally just jumped into a finale. We never saw the ML getting out of his predicament. Where are some of the characters now? What are they doing with their lives? What is Yun Qi's position? JUST a doctor? WHO IS HER LADYSHIP?

They are all Lost in the Kunlun Mountains, lol.

Music: Nothing too spectacular or special. The opening fit the drama's tone and I loved it. I can't recall anything else. So the stars it has on this section...is for that opening.

Rewatch Value: If the ending had its proper, satisfactory finish with the events that no doubt got sliced (and there's evidence thanks to BTS), I would have loved to put the Rewatch Value higher. Unfortunately, the slow pace that was heading to a good place got butchered by the unprecedented time skip. I don't know if anyone would want to rewatch after that, unless we get the uncut and unedited version of this drama.

I would rank this drama at a solid 8/8.5. The ending killed its potential but that doesn't mean it didn't have one.

There are episodes where it picked up when nearing the second half and then it just fell by the end. To no fault of the staff and director. I'm positive they didn't go "yeeeees, let's not answer most of the drama's pending questions to the audience, that makes so much sense, how ingeniiiiiious bwuhahah!". It is what it is.

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