LynnLy
Mediocre show that could have been better
There are 2 things that bother me in dramas ... stupid characters that would not survive a day in reality and the silly misunderstandings between the couples. This drama did not have the second issue, but the first one was prominent,
I would give a recap of the story, but it was all over the place and a mess. Just when you thought there was a plan or goal in site it would change and then drag out to the point I really didn't care. The story basically revolves around a female swords person, Zhou Fei, and the "emperor" from the previous dynasty. Xie Yun. There are bad people not sure where they came from or why they are bad, it doesn't have to do with the current dynasty as far as I can tell. I mean I am not sure why there is an army from the previous dynasty and who exactly they are fighting, is it the current dynasty (seems like not) or the bad people (then why do they just not part of the current dynasty). The story is a mess, I do not now the source material so I cannot say if this is what the story is supposed to be like. As for the other characters - they come and go and I forget they were even there (Chuchu's brother just disappeared, the useless young guy that had no skills meets the female lead for a few episodes and then sacrifices himself for her?), and there are so many with little to no purpose . There is little growth or development from any characters except for the female leads cousin Li Sheng. The most annoying character is a toss up between Li Yan (female leads cousin) who has to be one of the dumbest and most annoying people to ever be in a show (I was hoping they would kill her when she was captured to end my misery) and also the 3rd prince (like "adopted" brother of the Male Lead but he's from the current dynasty which means there is no hope if he becomes emperor). I really cannot decide which was more annoying. I guess the third prince was like a fly, while Li Yan was like a swarm gnats (I guess she wins the most annoying award). It was nice to see a string female lead, and the two main characters were fine. I even liked the second couple (Li Sheng and Chuchu) and the country bumpkin was fine (although he was generally with the annoying female). I found the older generation more interesting - Li Zheng (Female leads grandfather), Ji Yin Chen, the Taoist, the monks that took care of Xie Yun, Yin Wen Lan, and the palm fighting lady. I would rather of seen them more. Also, in the middle of rescue missions or fights, they would stand around and talk for like 10 minutes, who does that? I mean when Chuchu is leaving the medicine valley it's like a 15 minute scene to say goodbye, ironically she finds the general in like a minute to make upper how long it took to leave the little valley!
As for acting, I thought the Zhao Li Ying was fine as the female lead. I know that she was a little old to be playing the young girl, but that didn't bother me. The attempts to make her look younger with heavy makeup actually made it harder to see her as young. Wang Yibo was good as the male lead. I know others have reviewed that he was better as Lan Wangji in The Untamed or that Wei Wuxian was the same character but better, but I think those are unfair. It's a different role and story so you cannot really compare them. Do I think he is a great actor, not at all, but he is pleasant and I think he played the carefree ML role fine even if lacking depth. With that said, I never really saw any chemistry between the two. They were just OK together. The rest of the acting was adequate, nothing remarkable. The main villain was fine and the "older" generation was fine. I enjoyed Frankie Guo's over the top portrayal of Mu Xiao Qiao (he wasn't;t in the story enough).
The soundtrack was fine. I liked the songs but there were episodes where all that seems to happen was the song playing. So towards the end they seemed stale to me.
Basically if you like the actress and actor then you can enjoy the show for them. For me that wasn't enough to make up for the failings. I would call this a mediocre show - there are worse ones to watch and also way better ones to watch.
I would give a recap of the story, but it was all over the place and a mess. Just when you thought there was a plan or goal in site it would change and then drag out to the point I really didn't care. The story basically revolves around a female swords person, Zhou Fei, and the "emperor" from the previous dynasty. Xie Yun. There are bad people not sure where they came from or why they are bad, it doesn't have to do with the current dynasty as far as I can tell. I mean I am not sure why there is an army from the previous dynasty and who exactly they are fighting, is it the current dynasty (seems like not) or the bad people (then why do they just not part of the current dynasty). The story is a mess, I do not now the source material so I cannot say if this is what the story is supposed to be like. As for the other characters - they come and go and I forget they were even there (Chuchu's brother just disappeared, the useless young guy that had no skills meets the female lead for a few episodes and then sacrifices himself for her?), and there are so many with little to no purpose . There is little growth or development from any characters except for the female leads cousin Li Sheng. The most annoying character is a toss up between Li Yan (female leads cousin) who has to be one of the dumbest and most annoying people to ever be in a show (I was hoping they would kill her when she was captured to end my misery) and also the 3rd prince (like "adopted" brother of the Male Lead but he's from the current dynasty which means there is no hope if he becomes emperor). I really cannot decide which was more annoying. I guess the third prince was like a fly, while Li Yan was like a swarm gnats (I guess she wins the most annoying award). It was nice to see a string female lead, and the two main characters were fine. I even liked the second couple (Li Sheng and Chuchu) and the country bumpkin was fine (although he was generally with the annoying female). I found the older generation more interesting - Li Zheng (Female leads grandfather), Ji Yin Chen, the Taoist, the monks that took care of Xie Yun, Yin Wen Lan, and the palm fighting lady. I would rather of seen them more. Also, in the middle of rescue missions or fights, they would stand around and talk for like 10 minutes, who does that? I mean when Chuchu is leaving the medicine valley it's like a 15 minute scene to say goodbye, ironically she finds the general in like a minute to make upper how long it took to leave the little valley!
As for acting, I thought the Zhao Li Ying was fine as the female lead. I know that she was a little old to be playing the young girl, but that didn't bother me. The attempts to make her look younger with heavy makeup actually made it harder to see her as young. Wang Yibo was good as the male lead. I know others have reviewed that he was better as Lan Wangji in The Untamed or that Wei Wuxian was the same character but better, but I think those are unfair. It's a different role and story so you cannot really compare them. Do I think he is a great actor, not at all, but he is pleasant and I think he played the carefree ML role fine even if lacking depth. With that said, I never really saw any chemistry between the two. They were just OK together. The rest of the acting was adequate, nothing remarkable. The main villain was fine and the "older" generation was fine. I enjoyed Frankie Guo's over the top portrayal of Mu Xiao Qiao (he wasn't;t in the story enough).
The soundtrack was fine. I liked the songs but there were episodes where all that seems to happen was the song playing. So towards the end they seemed stale to me.
Basically if you like the actress and actor then you can enjoy the show for them. For me that wasn't enough to make up for the failings. I would call this a mediocre show - there are worse ones to watch and also way better ones to watch.
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