This review may contain spoilers
Meant for young adults, played by young adults. Aired in 2018, produced few years earlier
At first, I was confused and read some negative comments regarding this drama. So, I didn't expect much from it. Moreover, I thought it was just another case of youth martial arts that I had seen before. Later, I realized that the negative comments were referring to season 2 and it made me pleasantly surprised.
What confused me was the name mentioned in the drama and the name mentioned when it aired. Both are a different season.
The drama centers around a young and aspiring martial artist hero who faces various challenges in his mission to save the world. He attends a prestigious martial arts school with a group of loyal friends, and sweet romance blossoms throughout the series. His mission is to eradicate the evil, save his friends and have his revenge. While the plot may not be entirely original, it is worth noting that the drama was produced a few years before its 2018 release due to Chinese media censorship, so the special effects may not be as advanced as those in more recent dramas. The music choice at that time was probably good to attract young people too!
It's remarkable how much a few years can change actors and actresses. Looking back from 2024, it's clear that Leo Wu, whom I first saw in Love Like the Galaxy, was much younger then (probably around 16-17 in 2016 when it was produced), and while his acting experience was already impressive, he lacked a certain (normal) maturity that he has since acquired in his recent dramas, a few years later (he is 24 in 2024). Therefore, even talented, even with an already impressive list of dramas he played, he was still a late teenager and it showed. Even back then, he was already bodybuilding, which was evident from the number of times we saw him shirtless on the show. I'm sure his fans were over the moon! 😆
Few comical and over-the-top scenes were amusing, particularly when the ML cleverly wrapped a black scarf around his face to remain incognito, but peculiarly kept the attention-grabbing, one-of-a-kind, gigantic sword strapped to his back, making it obvious to everyone that it was indeed him. It was a comical display of a superhero in action, leaving me with a hearty laugh. This is why I call this drama meant for teenagers and young adults. The credibility was removed immediately.
Ahem… a special mention to the ugliest hairstyles I have ever seen in a drama!! Gosh, those were so distracting, poor Leo Wu!
I was taken aback when I saw Xiao Zhan in a supporting role, as I am a huge fan of his after watching The Untamed. This drama was a year before though and although his acting was good, he didn't shine as much as The Untamed. It's disheartening to see that despite his immense popularity, he doesn't seem to be happy. Every time I see him in recent interviews or TV events, he appears to be unhappy and wants to escape. He recently expressed his desire to take a step back. It's a shame that someone as talented as him doesn't seem to be getting the happiness and recognition he deserves.
It's funny that I found many actors and actresses who played support roles in the Chinese dramas "Oh My Emperor" (2018) and "Joy of Life" (2019). Some of these actors include Jason Gu and Wu Jia Cheng (from "Oh My Emperor"), Li Qin, Li Zi Feng, Du Yu Ming and Xin Zhi Lei (all from "Joy of Life"). It's rare for me to recognize actors, especially when there are hundreds of them. However, these actors made an impression on me when I watched "Oh My Emperor" and "Joy of Life" before this drama.
This drama is an entertaining production that is worth watching without high expectations. Although at episode 33, I found it was a bit redundant, I took a little pause and decided to finish the series. While it may not be the most memorable drama out there, it certainly has its moments and will keep you interested for the entire season. This drama is geared towards young adults but can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. As a personal taste, I do not like special sound effects (aka owls we never see to make sure we understand it is the night even if it is plainly the night with the moon or the crickets).
Overall, I recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys a good martial arts storyline with a touch of romance.
What confused me was the name mentioned in the drama and the name mentioned when it aired. Both are a different season.
The drama centers around a young and aspiring martial artist hero who faces various challenges in his mission to save the world. He attends a prestigious martial arts school with a group of loyal friends, and sweet romance blossoms throughout the series. His mission is to eradicate the evil, save his friends and have his revenge. While the plot may not be entirely original, it is worth noting that the drama was produced a few years before its 2018 release due to Chinese media censorship, so the special effects may not be as advanced as those in more recent dramas. The music choice at that time was probably good to attract young people too!
It's remarkable how much a few years can change actors and actresses. Looking back from 2024, it's clear that Leo Wu, whom I first saw in Love Like the Galaxy, was much younger then (probably around 16-17 in 2016 when it was produced), and while his acting experience was already impressive, he lacked a certain (normal) maturity that he has since acquired in his recent dramas, a few years later (he is 24 in 2024). Therefore, even talented, even with an already impressive list of dramas he played, he was still a late teenager and it showed. Even back then, he was already bodybuilding, which was evident from the number of times we saw him shirtless on the show. I'm sure his fans were over the moon! 😆
Few comical and over-the-top scenes were amusing, particularly when the ML cleverly wrapped a black scarf around his face to remain incognito, but peculiarly kept the attention-grabbing, one-of-a-kind, gigantic sword strapped to his back, making it obvious to everyone that it was indeed him. It was a comical display of a superhero in action, leaving me with a hearty laugh. This is why I call this drama meant for teenagers and young adults. The credibility was removed immediately.
Ahem… a special mention to the ugliest hairstyles I have ever seen in a drama!! Gosh, those were so distracting, poor Leo Wu!
I was taken aback when I saw Xiao Zhan in a supporting role, as I am a huge fan of his after watching The Untamed. This drama was a year before though and although his acting was good, he didn't shine as much as The Untamed. It's disheartening to see that despite his immense popularity, he doesn't seem to be happy. Every time I see him in recent interviews or TV events, he appears to be unhappy and wants to escape. He recently expressed his desire to take a step back. It's a shame that someone as talented as him doesn't seem to be getting the happiness and recognition he deserves.
It's funny that I found many actors and actresses who played support roles in the Chinese dramas "Oh My Emperor" (2018) and "Joy of Life" (2019). Some of these actors include Jason Gu and Wu Jia Cheng (from "Oh My Emperor"), Li Qin, Li Zi Feng, Du Yu Ming and Xin Zhi Lei (all from "Joy of Life"). It's rare for me to recognize actors, especially when there are hundreds of them. However, these actors made an impression on me when I watched "Oh My Emperor" and "Joy of Life" before this drama.
This drama is an entertaining production that is worth watching without high expectations. Although at episode 33, I found it was a bit redundant, I took a little pause and decided to finish the series. While it may not be the most memorable drama out there, it certainly has its moments and will keep you interested for the entire season. This drama is geared towards young adults but can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. As a personal taste, I do not like special sound effects (aka owls we never see to make sure we understand it is the night even if it is plainly the night with the moon or the crickets).
Overall, I recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys a good martial arts storyline with a touch of romance.
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