Such a good production that it's a crime to skip

What hurts more the lack of mystery, or my oh so weak heartstrings? I'm not sure, but this review will be much like the show-- confusing and contradictory, bitter yet so diabetically sweet. But bear with me, it's worth it.
There aren't many curveballs in this story...in fact a lot of the spoilers are plain as day. The side characters are the same as any other shoujo-esque angsty romance. They never truly have a chance, even though they're good(?)-- no desperate people. Childhood friends turned to enemies. Makes you think about passing eh? Well... don't. Don't put it off for later. Watch it. Nao. (HAH! Gotteemm... ahem....)
There is something so refreshing and almost suffocating about how good this drama is. The acting, chemistry, delicacies, music...you name it. The directing was just...too on point. I don't know why, but episode 1 the first 10 minutes seemed to be filmed so poorly (or...very reminiscent of like the early 90s style shows. I'm not sure if it was intended or maybe I watched from a poor source, but I don't even think 80s dramas were filmed on such bad potatoes.) The style almost shares a bit of resemblance to how shoujo...manga starts off? But even with that, I couldn't drop it. And thank god I didn't. It's easily one of my favourite Japanese dramas, (maybe top dramas of all time?!). It's frustrating, but intensely real. You don't hate the villains, even if they're truly horrible. You despise their actions and their naivety, but there is reason and humanity in each of them Nothing is overplayed.
Tsubaki, the poor man has gone through so much and really paid for the hell he endured for "lying". But what is the right action to do? It is rare to see a story of that isn't forgive and forget. I don't think I've ever seen a storyline of such heavily deep rooted trust...even if it's trusting the biggest liars of the whole series. Even with reasonable evidence, everyone waits before jumping to conclusion. Even when the conclusions are reached, there's still TIME to get a last minute admission of truth. No such thing as toxic "you can't chase your dreams" or flirt with others.... I trust that you are in it for the goodness of your heart, even if your heart is cold and we're only business.
There's something about this adaptation that was delivered so...addictingly? There's something that makes this overly angsty storyline with cringely predictable moves not at all cringey and unbearable. It's a perfect drama to ease your sweet tooth, even if the push and pull of the main characters make you go crazy. I apologize if this review sounds like its going in circles; it will likely not make sense without finishing the show first, but just know that this is the perfect throwback to your favourite angsty/romance cliches, yet there is the ONE show you need to invest time in NOW. It isn't perfect, yet it's better then anything you've tasted before. It will take you on a roller coaster and is absent of the horrible toxic traits your favourite tweenage romance plots had.

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Bland, but would recommend anyways

While I'm sure there are many good ones that exist, when I think of Wild Wild West, Cowboys fighting Indian movies I often think of flashy but nondescript storylines. A fun watch while you're watching it, but then when you reflect you realize nothing has really happened. Maybe a tumbleweed, maybe a saloon scene...but that's about as memorable as it is. If that stereotype had an Eastern counterpart, I'd relate it to watching this. Costumes and production was well, and the acting roster is commendable as well. But the storyline was definitely a B or C tier choice. I watched it particularly to experience Sato and Aoki's acting, but was overall not particularly drawn to any character. Nor did I feel like I watched any emotional tugging character development. Immemorable (if that were a word). But with all that negativity in mind, I wouldn't not recommend this. In fact, I'd say that given how bland it is -- if you want to have a fair enjoyable experience, but no major heartfeels (or just want something easy but still fairly exciting to watch), then you should watch it. It's still shot well. If we're not doing comparisons to other movies out there, this is a box standard--no major bad qualms movie.

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Finish it for the actors, not for the storyline. 10/10, but also 0/10

It feels so weird to rate this movie. On one hand, the actors really carried this movie. Their individual practice really paid off, and I feel no sign of the actors themselves--only the characters they're embodying. On the other, it feels like a letdown for the trilogy itself. Had it been a solo action I think I could rate it a solid 8, but I can't place why--maybe how it feels like a filler episode---I almost want to give it a 0.
Maybe it's because the camera shots seemed a bit less "real" (You can see where swords hit air, but hear a thud). Maybe it's the pacing. There's no real--heartdrop moment. In fact the entire time everyone kept getting up, I actually felt pressured for them to either hurry up and die (like realistically), or just fast forward.
I feel like I am exactly where I left off on the second movie. I'm grateful for such cool choreo scenes, but overall I don't really sense being closer to the characters. Aoshi throws a tantrum, not once but twice to prove a point that he's no longer the same person (maybe I'd like to see his before nature more)...the whole ninja romance is unaddressed....and all that fighting for such a PG(? Shounen?) ending. I don't know man. Maybe it's just the way the story was written, but even the relationship with Kenshin and Kaoru seems so........disappointing. If it weren't for Megumi's tonics, or Kaoru being nervous that Kenshin was mad at her, I would have forgotten this was a romance.
That said, peace is restored.
I know it's fairly faithful to the adaption, but it would have been interesting to see more action scenes with the girls. Or, conflict between the Kenshin and Kaoru.

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If "So fluffy I'ma die" had a visual adaption for the phrase, this would be it.

Truth be told, this is a difficult show to review. As a huge romance/shoujo fan, I'd say this is great. It's fluffy, there's conflict, but there's not an annoying extended period of misunderstanding for the second female. That said, maybe it's the story-- or maybe it's the short adaptation, but it's very hard to find a natural lead of progression of when the two main leads actually get interested in each other. All of actors in general seem to still be a little stiff (major rookie energy), although it plays well in favor of the leads as they have very cute--but beginning of a relationship level energy. They match the hardworking and cool tone of the characters they're portraying. The actors in general make this show worth the watch, but I'm not sure if I'd rate this highly in terms of interest or rewatch value. It's hard to get immersed, except for the occasional heart-stopping phrases. I'm not sure how well it matches the original content, but I think it has great room for improvement if it had either developed the relationship between the main couple, or had a bit more practice for chemistry between the other characters.

Tl;dr I enjoyed it for my fluff heart, but it is admittedly a bit bland due to the pacing.

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It really is the romance we've needed.

If there was every a source material that truly deserved an adaption, it would be for the Song of the Long March. Truthfully, although I have my complaints, they don't disappoint with this adaption. It's fairly true to the source material (where the changes are actually beneficial to the story and character development of the other characters). They also chose excellent actors; not exactly the ones I had in my mind, but boy did the embody their characters P E R F E C T L Y. (Dilraba was pretty spot on truthfully. I'dve like to see Kyulkyung try this role. But truthfully, Dilraba 110% fits the bill. I couldn't see it any other way.)
But all of the actors-- they somehow make the characters more lovable then their source material version. The side characters are a bit more memorable, and you grow to be invested in the side stories progressing as well. There's plot twists, and stuff -- but it really helps fill out each character to seem more realistic. I found myself routing for the people I hated the most.
The cast, I can tell immediately -- seem like they'll be dorky and friendly off screens. It's unfortunate that I feel like the chemistry between Dilraba and Leo are a hair too dry for my liking, (i.e. Le Yan and Hao Du seem a bit more clear cut) but truthfully... I don't hate it. It's one of the few times, if not the only time it makes sense that they're not falling into each others arms. They really delivered even more then what I expected of the main characters in a way that makes sense.
Additionally,. their subtle movements, and really minute expressions truly makes it feel like they're living the life of the character. It feels natural; generally speaking, this doesn't feel like a rookie cast. And more importantly, the direction of the show is really on point. It isn't a 100% score in my book, but I think my bar is set a little higher just given my love for the original series as well as having seen some of the other work of the cast.
At Dilraba specifically, to no fault of her own, I found myself comparing her to her previous works where she has a similar estranged character (i.e. The King's Woman), and she hasn't really been able to separate those similar archetypes apart; it's a difficult task, probably impossible even-- but it's my small gripe. She makes Changge seem a bit more bullheaded and warrior-like in comparison to a quiet, chess-sort-of-cunning that I had imagined Changge to be. She grieves, but much more...loudly yet not as deeply....if that makes any sense. If I had to explain it another way, she acts too mature for the role, but contrasts by giving Changge a more childish/unwise? reaction to some things that makes her seem like she's in a different role.
Leo on the other hand makes Sun to be a bit more cool and calculating then I imagined Sun to be (if anything I expected him to have a bigger gap like how Dilraba is), but he really really shows the trust he has in her -- as well as understanding in her then I think the source material could ever get across. He knows what he wants, but he's not possessive, despite being the cold king stereotype. It's really really refreshing to see a male lead like that. I think he shows a really good progression of just being involved on the ride to I'm really just here for my girl Changge. I think this quieter (then the already quiet Sun) version really shows why he's the best of his clan; and it's not just purely on brute strength. *wolf's whistle to the fight scenes they do give him though because ooh weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*
Again with all of that said, I really did not hate anything about this show; the whole cast gave it more colour that made it equally if not more enjoyable then reading it. They're purely gripes of a book to adaption watcher.
And even though it's not a one to one adaption, it's not a poorly done spin off either.
It's a good balance of new and respecting the original.; truthfully I think if this was my first historical style show, or if I had not read the series first this would have easily become my favourite series of all time. But since it's not, the least I have to say is this is an A-tier drama with S tier acting, S-tier directing and also most importantly S-tier source material. Please watch it. Also please consider reading the manhua.

I haven't slept yet, (in fact just binged up until episode 33 until my internet went down).. but I'm itching to get back to it. Somehow it brings me back without giving me horrible cliffhangers to hang off of-- which P.S. I'd say is the same level of draw that the manhua gives.

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