MartyS
An unexpectedly melancholic allegorical tale
I watched this show with extremely low expectations - the decision to title it too close to a Korean drama plus the possibility of its similarities to another Korean drama - led me to believe that this was going to end up being a very poor imitation.
Yet, I was so wrong.
Underneath a not-so-wealthy production is a poignant, allegorical tale that is infinitely deeper than it appears to be. Yes, the visual effects may not be the best, but the solid writing, acting and the general melancholic tone of the show makes me give this a very high rating. In the world of the show everything falls in place and there are hardly any major plot holes, which is very possible with a complex topic like this one.
This is a literal fish-out-of-water tale, about being different, about greed and power. It is also a reflection upon multiple ways of loving. Despite having very little romance the show contemplates on the nature of sacrificial love versus selfish love. I found Chi Lu and Dai Xi's love for each other, although simmering in the background, to be one of the most beautiful love stories.
The acting was very well-suited for this tale, and the character motivations made sense - why does greed become a driving force for some people? Some of the scenes reminded me of actual historical events and really highlight the beauty of humanity as well as the raw brutality that so many parts/people of the world experienced during wars and other tragedies.
Zhou Yutong and Li Hongyi played their characters like two very young souls navigating the world. It would have made sense to write Li Hongyi as a 20 year old instead of 25 (the actor himself was only 18 or 19) but that is something easily forgotten. Li Hongyi sang three of the songs on the OST (one with Zhou Yutong) and although the background music is a bit loud sometimes, the music is fantastic and I can see how much effort was put into the lyrics, composition and the singing.
I strongly recommend this to those who enjoy melancholic, deep and allegorical storytelling, as beyond its technical deficiencies, this really is a beautiful show.
Yet, I was so wrong.
Underneath a not-so-wealthy production is a poignant, allegorical tale that is infinitely deeper than it appears to be. Yes, the visual effects may not be the best, but the solid writing, acting and the general melancholic tone of the show makes me give this a very high rating. In the world of the show everything falls in place and there are hardly any major plot holes, which is very possible with a complex topic like this one.
This is a literal fish-out-of-water tale, about being different, about greed and power. It is also a reflection upon multiple ways of loving. Despite having very little romance the show contemplates on the nature of sacrificial love versus selfish love. I found Chi Lu and Dai Xi's love for each other, although simmering in the background, to be one of the most beautiful love stories.
The acting was very well-suited for this tale, and the character motivations made sense - why does greed become a driving force for some people? Some of the scenes reminded me of actual historical events and really highlight the beauty of humanity as well as the raw brutality that so many parts/people of the world experienced during wars and other tragedies.
Zhou Yutong and Li Hongyi played their characters like two very young souls navigating the world. It would have made sense to write Li Hongyi as a 20 year old instead of 25 (the actor himself was only 18 or 19) but that is something easily forgotten. Li Hongyi sang three of the songs on the OST (one with Zhou Yutong) and although the background music is a bit loud sometimes, the music is fantastic and I can see how much effort was put into the lyrics, composition and the singing.
I strongly recommend this to those who enjoy melancholic, deep and allegorical storytelling, as beyond its technical deficiencies, this really is a beautiful show.
Was this review helpful to you?
