I write reviews only for dramas either I love or I drop despite I want to love them.
I wanna write the reasons & keep a memo of why I dropped them.

The Wuxia Drama I love most is the ' Heavenly Sword & Dragon Sabre (2003) ' . It is a wuxia drama with historical background.

On the other hand, 'Who rules the World' seems like ' A court drama' with Wuxia background.
Most of its episodes focus on Court Politics while it is labelled as Wuxia Drama .


******
I watch dramas blindly, only when I have strong desire to check it out by watching trailers or they are from my most favorite genres.
I usually read the reviews first for most dramas if I am unsure to watch them or not.

I watched the review video of WRTW on 'Avenue X youtube'.
The review is neither too bad nor too good.

So I decided to give it a go because I adored Yang Yang & Zhao Lusi.
( Why not ? They are good looking & I have nothing much to watch at the moment)

*****
Even if the plot is written with Fantasy elements and Wuxia, the centre core of the plot is 'The Lonely Prince is emotionally hurt and Saved by an Innocent Maiden' . (At least by Drama Version)

Yeah, we have seen this plot multiple times before, not only in ancient times but also in modern times .
The plot is a Millennium long Cliche , but if properly executed, most become crack dramas.
( Bu Bu Jing Xin )

After watching this, most of my issue lies with 'ML characterisation'.

At the start of the drama, they introduced ML, FLX as a strong individual who manage Fountain Abode, ' A secret Martial art Organization' .
They said 'Fountain Abode is full of skillful individuals' and Branches of that organization also seem to exist in other States , not only in Yongzhou where ML actually resides as a prince.

But when we actually arrived Yongzhou, the ML who is that cunning & powerful was presented as the powerless prince with less allies in the court .This is less convincing & totally unbelievable.

( Ok if one is Naruto & the other is actual 'Genin' level ninja, you can't have a fight.
So ML has to be weak in his own kingdom .
Logic )

It is as if the plot is written like that just to present 'All that Palace Scheming with his step brother'

Yeah, I know . Family trauma is necessary for the ML to connect with FL who will give him the necessary emotional support .

But it is like the events are happening just for the sake of happening.

I totally gave up my common sense of understanding especially in ' The Examination Arc', the entire 'Photocopying Martial Art' really came out of nowhere to solve the issue easily.

.........
It also doesn't help that I don't feel the romantic chemistry between two main leads.

From the moment we see them, they have already known each other . They are like rivals in the Martial World.
I don't remember seeing a particularly memorable moment that move forward their relationship from this point to romantic point.

So I can only assume may be they have fallen for each other long before the drama starts and it is like I cut in the middle without seeing their initial interaction. So I feel nothing and disconnected from their romance.

*****
They build the world around Dadong empire & vassal 6 states.
It sounds grand, but rather than focusing on the big picture, what we get is 'Neverending Political mess in Yongzhou'
Not even the FL character is fully fleshed out.

Huang Chao and YWY seem interesting, but their screentime is limited.

On the other hand, ML's stepmom Bitchy Queen & his boring brother get a lot of screentime.

*****
Acting wise, Yang Yang & Zhao Lusi look beautiful and dashing.

But their acting doesn't particularly wow me
because I have seen 'Yang Yang' in his other dramas where he played the similar 'Grand Character'.
Since their acting is nothing special, it really cannot convince me to continue watching when the drama is getting boring. ( It is not 16 episodes, it is freaking 40 episodes)

Apart from the main characters, there is ' No eye Catching ' level of acting from side characters either.

Worse, the actor who is playing as ' Feng Ju' really irritates me (I don't know whether it is the character or the actor himself who always plays more or less the same in every projects he is in.)

*****
Cinematography is fine. But clumsiness of editing here and there disturb enjoyment and immersion into the drama.



I feel like many things are out of place. So my interest is slowly waning and after that, I decide to drop the drama.