watch it for the actors, not for the story!

I'm approaching this without knowing anything about the novel or the drama version.

Jade Dynasty is an ambitious work, in the sense that it's trying to pack so much story into such a short time frame. Oftentimes, the plot was almost too fast-paced for me. The story was progressing, but I felt like I understood little about the world and the intricacies of the character's relationships-- their past, their motivations-- so it was much harder to connect with them on an emotional level.

After reading reviews on this site, I was prepared for the worst when it came to the ending. However, to me, the ending is not bad-- fitting for the story, albeit not super exciting or satisfying. As a viewer, you're left with a lot of questions about the world and characters that are never really explained (again, probably because there was no time).

As other users have mentioned, I also found the movie a little too CGI-heavy. Some of the fight scenes were gorgeous though, especially the ones based on martial arts! The clothing choices (compared to other xianxia dramas) also really caught my eye-- I really liked the more ragtag look to them (it really fits the tone of the movie).

Despite the shortcomings of the story, the one thing I loved about this movie was the actors! Xiao Zhan really captured the essence of Zhang Xiao Fan: a clumsy, scatterbrained but genuine boy. Li Qin and Tang Yixin were standouts as well, super stunning!

If you're after this movie because you like the actors, I'd definitely recommend it! But if you're in it because you want a good story, I'd probably pass on this one. :)

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lovely stand alone story-- a good introduction to the Douluo Universe

I came into this drama without any understanding of the source material or its other adaptations. In many ways, I think the drama is designed for this specific audience. It really takes its time with worldbuilding, and allows the viewer to learn the different aspects of this universe along with Tang San.

Things I really loved:

The pacing was lovely. I felt like I had enough time to understand everything clearly before moving forward with the story, and the screenwriter really takes his time introducing everything to the viewers. It's one of the only dramas I've watched all the way through (without skipping scenes); the plot points were introduced at the right time and the story kept me engaged.

The cinematography is gorgeous, especially in the first few episodes.

I heard the CGI budget was raised for this drama, and it really made a difference. It's so smooth and pleasing to watch; overall, the CGI is quite impressive compared to similar Chinese dramas.

I thought the cast all fit their roles really well. The dynamic between the 7 Devils and the Golden Triangle were especially amazing; I found myself laughing along with them a lot! I was really impressed by Calvin Chen especially; Xiao Gang is my favorite character. :) His relationship with Tang San and the headmaster were my favorites throughout the drama.

Things I didn't like as much:

I thought the fights weren't choreographed all that well for a martial arts drama. A lot of fights were segmented into solo shots, whereas I would have liked more interaction with the other team members. There are also a lot of "glamour shots" of them heading out to battle, which I feel could have been shorter.

Objectively, I think Tang San is less compelling than other main characters. I definitely like him as a protagonist-- I like his moral values, and the questions about his past keep me interested in the story. However, sometimes I feel as if he's a victim of circumstance; he doesn't seem to have a powerful drive in him. And as Xiao Zhan himself has said, I feel like Tang San is almost too perfect. I feel that a flaw could make him a more compelling character to root for.

Personally, I also think Tang San and Xiao Wu's relationship is overshadowed by some other characters in the novel. For example, sometimes I felt a little disconnect when Tang San wanted to protect Xiao Wu at all costs, especially shortly after they've just met--I think it may be due to the fact that I feel like their relationship developed too fast (due to limited screen time), but also the disparity between Xiao Zhan and Xuanyi's acting experience. However, this point didn't detract from my enjoyment of the drama.

I found the music choice to be strange sometimes. I think an electric guitar sound popped up at one point and I was confused (because do electric guitars even exist in that world?). But it's an artistic and innovative choice by the sound director, and I respect the decision.

Overall, I felt that Douluo Continent is a drama aimed at a younger audience (teens and young adults). It's a light-hearted and easily palatable coming-of-age show. Even if it's not heavily emotional, it does not, by any means, lack emotional depth or touching moments. I'd definitely recommend that you check it out. :)

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It's a good drama to pass time

** caution: large spoilers ahead

It makes you want to watch on, but it wasn't one of those works that really engulfs you into the story until it's over. It wasn't anything special or extraordinary; it really follows the tropes of this genre and the story makes sense, albeit it didn't flow as well as I'd like it to in some places.

I really liked both leads. There were some gorgeous martial arts scenes in the beginning.

The only thing I really have qualms with was some of the important plot points and the ending.

Key reveals I think were handled poorly:
1. Han family murder, Xieyun's death-- essentially characters recovering extremely fast from grief.
2. Xiyun's identity reveal-- it was extremely anticlimactic after all the build up.
3. They really just took away Lanxi's power & then gave it back in the span of like 3 episodes.

The problem with the ending:

The last few episodes were really rushed-- the final showdown starts in the middle of the last episode. There just wasn't enough time to make everything feel realistic or for anything to sink in. All those years of preparation, and Yu Wuyuan just loses like that? Within 20 minutes of screen time? In the final battle, it felt like there weren't really any real losses or turning points / consequences to war.

Why are others so quick to letting Huang Chao rule a world that was previously divided into six nations? Is Hua Chunran a good person? A good empress?

Although the main characters got their happy ending, I feel that it was extremely out-of-character for them to go and live off on their own. They clearly have talent ruling, and our ML spent the entire drama going for the throne. They're people who can't stand by idly and watch injustice. Essentially the ending is pointing to a world so perfect that they would never need to interfere-- and I just can't imagine that happening.

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a gem!

Word of Honor is one of the best dramas I've ever watched.

This isn't a coming-of-age story. The protagonists have already seen their share of the world and are journeying to leave their past lives behind. At an age where it's hard to open up to new people, they decide to give their all to this relationship and end up finding solace in each other. Throughout these 36 episodes, the characters grapple with their pasts, try to come to terms with their trauma, and make mistakes. Sometimes their moral compasses are questionable, but in the end, they're good people-- very human-- and find redemption in each other.

The strength of this story really lies in its characters. Zhou Zishu and Wen Kexing are both incredibly complex and flawed characters, and really bring out the best in each other.

The leading actors, Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun, really blew me away. I had reservations at first, but by the end they'd convinced me they were meant to play their respective roles-- I can't imagine having anyone else play these characters. I was especially impressed by Zhang Zhehan. Although Zhou Zishu is such a restrained, introverted, and complex character, Zhang Zhehan managed to bring so much life into him. Not to mention, he has the most gorgeous smile ever-- his eyes turn into little half moons, and his features soften-- it's like he's a completely different person! I wasn’t a fan of Gong Jun’s acting before, but it’s like he unlocked another dimension of his acting working with Zhang Zhehan. Together, their chemistry is incredible-- they make one of the best pairings I’ve ever seen on-screen. The support cast is wonderful as well, and I especially loved Zhou Ye's portrayal of Gu Xiang-- she's another young actress I'll have to watch out for!

The script shocked me at first, because it was so bold. I was surprised they managed to slip everything past censorship. Flirting, hand-holding, hugging-- it's all in there. Although not stated explicitly, I interpreted the relationship between the two leads as more than friends, more than lovers even-- they really bring a new definition to the word "soulmate".

The fighting scenes are well-choreographed and beautifully shot, and the cinematography is gorgeous throughout. There are many references to Chinese poetry in the script, which I feel was a nice touch. The costumes are amazing. Despite not having the highest budget, they really spent money on the right things.

The drama isn't perfect by any means. I found the pacing to be a little off in some later episodes (too slow around 21-27 and too fast around 31-32), and there are a few stray plot holes. In my opinion, too much screen time was given to Zhao Jing / the Scorpion King and scheming villains, when I would have preferred more WenZhou scenes. However, I think everything else about this production makes up for its few imperfections. I’ve already gone back and rewatched episodes, and it’s indeed the type of story that’s so detailed you take away something new each time.

Thank you to the cast and crew for giving us Word of Honor. This is the first piece of work in a while that has made me cry and laugh and feel so many emotions at the same time. This is a story that's going to stay with me for a long time.

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