Had You in the First Half, Didn't I?

As a Republican Era Cdrama veteran (my all-time favorite is SPARROW (2016), similar spy and communist themes, but much darker and tragic) and someone who minors in Chinese Language and Ancient/Modern History, I will say that this series is not bad so far.

I'm aware many people don't watch these shows because of "CCP propaganda," but this series is more romantic and nerve-racking than it is preachy. It holds a good level of seriousness and authenticity to the danger of their cause, the oppressiveness of Japanese occupation, as well as how some of the Communist spy cells used to operate, all while showing the chemistry between leads. And nonetheless, whatever your political and ideological stance, the terrors and political turmoil these people lived through at this time were no less real.

The leads are smart but not TOO smart that it makes you roll your eyes. There are mistakes they have to make up for here and there (the letters being snatched, the Hospital Morgue fiasco) that require them to realistically problem solve. I will say, I am a bit surprised by the anxiousness and apprehension to highly rate this drama in the comments and other areas. (ᵕ—ᴗ—) Maybe they are having a buffer to ward of disappointment, or they are fans of the leads (Elvis Han, Guan Xiaotong) and are cringing at the fear of seeing these two actors in a Republican Era drama, or maybe they are still sour at the Mr. and Mrs. Smith claimed remake. In any case, I must honestly say that my expectations were very low, but watching the first 4 episodes made me have to change that mindset.

Now, if this goes down the drain I'll be VERY mad. The side characters and even allies seem to be quite formidable and clever. They should not waste them.
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Hey. It's me again. I'm v e r y mad.


The once stunning and opportune Female Lead has been relegated numerous times to a damsel in distress, there are plot holes and inconsistencies with the ML ability to stay alive till this point, AND. . . the chemistry is dying... and they are dragging the "ignorant of the other party being on my side" situation. Now their marriage DOES look like a farce.

And before the non-romance people object, I understand your point. I also usually avoid roms in Cdramas, as I'm mostly a thriller, mystery, politics and bromance/sismance(?) watcher, BUT WHEN HAS A MATURE ROMANCE HURT ANYONE? And even when the romance is minimal in the aforementioned drama genres, atleast it's done well. But no, now we have to endure this dry pairing forced down our throat while the Communist espionage suffering persists.

WHY would anyone seek to recreate a Mr. and Mrs. Smith situation, when you have the leads cosplaying marriage and more so playing bother and sister? Well. Their acting is fine, but you know who I blame? The freaking screen director. As a Republican Era espionage story, the worldbuilding is too limited anyway, not to mention the plot is becoming predictable.

Peace out, all others. Maybe you will fare better than I did.

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Chinese Youth Dramas can be GOOD...?!

Have you ever watched "School 2013"? "Dream High"? Or the Jdrama "LIFE"? These shows are popular classics known for going above and beyond when showing youth's struggles, aspirations, and desires. While their genres may differ, the strong themes of friendship, growth, retribution, forgiveness, and character development make them superior to many popular East Asian shows.

Now let's get into the review title. As a veteran that has watched many Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Taiwanese dramas, I know it's not controversial when I say China has produced some of the most cliche and unbearable school/youth dramas....to the point that I stopped watching them.

1.) Serious themes or important issues are usually mishandled.
2.) The side characters are often one-dimensional and only serve to push the main plot.
3.) Their dramas are usually overly obsessed with romance.
4.)They usually have the whiny, dumb FL pining after the ice-cold, super-smart, ML that's fawned on by the entire school populace. Eventually, after many misunderstandings and rude interactions between the main leads, the FL's persistence is 'rewarded' by the ML slowly (and subtly to the point of annoyance) falling in love with her.

THIS SHOW DOES NOT TOLERATE THAT

SIDE CHARACTERS:
We meet a range of characters from Erbao to Cheng Jing. Almost everyone has equal importance to the main leads. We are exposed to these characters' motivations, fears, and pasts with care and quality. Rather than have surface-level actors who we cannot root for or understand. the audience is exposed to almost REAL people, young adults with troubled existences that we can relate to. If there is an episode where the ML/FL wouldn't appear, the audience would still be immersed and engaged with the story of a side character. All of their interactions with each other, whether malicious, wholesome, or sad, are RAW. They are not sugar-coated or pushed aside with a wand of happiness. You and the characters are forced to reconcile with the consequences of their emotions and actions.

CHARACTER GROWTH
It's no surprise that there are character archetypes. There is the textbook mean girl. the supposed 'SL' that always cares for the FL, and there are the nerdy or bullied klds that bottle things inside. But as I said before...THIS SHOW DOES NOT TOLERATE THAT. These supposed one dimensional characters break out of their shells and restrictions of self over a realistic period. The numerous interactions they have with others and the problems they face make them into stronger people. The audience is not toyed around with this growth, as it is sincere and occurs within a natural time frame which cancels out fears of regression. Students you despised at first you eventually grow to love (cough cough, the bully squad in School 2013)

BALANCING MATURE/IMPORTANT THEMES
While this drama has a cute intro and a FL lead that seems strong enough to solve anything, it's not afraid to let characters suffer as they understand the brutality of the world. Important themes such as mortality, scarring, masculinity, forced promiscuity, poverty, sexuality, and parental abuse are depicted as truthfully as possible. Characters that suffered through events do not just spring back to happiness and support the leads. They have their ups and downs, and complex emotions as they not only deal with fellow students but other parents and societal beliefs that they cannot control. While some scenes are hard to work on and may make you turn away, you care enough about the characters and the event to keep watching.

HANDLING ROMANCE
The ML may be smart in some areas but is not an all-around ace. Meanwhile, Fang Xue (FL) is a strong-willed, assertive person. She is a great friend that goes through many episodes sticking up for her friends and solving their troubles, as chaos ensues. TheML falls in love with her first, and thoroughly and gently cares for as a friend as he builds up the courage to confess. Their interactions are wholesome and cute. There are times where you'll be screaming at the screen because of how cute they are. Things take a while to build up, but it's not in a forced slow way that makes you hate the writers. Other pairings too have this sizzling chemistry and strong bond. Friends to Lovers >>>>> Enemies to Lovers (so overdone)

I especially like how the ML has huge ups and downs as a character. There are constant moments where he is embarrassed in front of the whole school, struggles with grades and certain subjects, and does clumsy/weird things out of embarrassment.

I started this show on Episode 3 and was using it as background noise as I did my hair. Unexpectedly, I found a rare gem.

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A Kingmaker Narrative that Tears Your Heart Apart

(2021-4-16) Hmm... SO far it's ABSOLUTELY superb! The women are all TRULY strong, Mei Changsu's character weak but determined, and the way the plot unravels is simply superior to any other drama of 'kingmaker' and 'revenge' I've ever seen. Only on episode 6, I'll be back with a more detailed review.

I'm back, and in pain. I will be honest, I knew that this drama was going to pull at me. Unlike some other viewers, I am not a crier. Rather than sad, I get very angry, irritable, and uncomfortable while I watch a series. Whether the story is bad or the plot just enrages me, I usually am not able to feel true, unadulterated sadness.

But this show got me.

I'll be honest, I did not shed many tears. Instead, I had to gasp for air whenever my throat burned or my chest tightened. Fei Lu's adorable personality paired with his tiger-like martial arts, Mei Changsu's friendships with Tong Liu, Commander Meng etc., the character growth and tragedy befalling Jingrui, the upstanding righteousness that is Marquis Yan, and the star-crossed love between Nihuang. Prince Jing. and Mei Changsu, all made me emotionally invested and torn. The women in this show are the best I've seen. TRULY strong. Contemplative, elegant, and poised. And even when they weren't, their performances as victims in a corrupt empire and patriarchal world made their actions all the more believable. The stereotypically 'masculine' and tomboyish women such as Princess Nihuang and Dong are not overdone. They are militaristic but still can carry themselves with an air of femininity. And CONSORT JING OH MY GOSH. SHE RAN THIS DRAMA, CONSORT JING SUPREMACY!!!

Ai, do not get me started on the steady rise of Prince Jing!
Psalm 118:22 "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

Robbed of his brother-in-arms and the leaders he respected to corruption and chaos, it is only his steadfastness and longing for justice (much like Marquis Yan) that stops him from going insane. I'm also glad the series went the route of making this his only flaw before the Emperor. Prince Jing was a character thoroughly well done. While he's the stereotypical straight arrow, he is portrayed as a correctly flawed human. He constantly is suspicious of Su Zhe's morality, is rash and impulsive in his quest for righteousness, and is obsessed with the Chiyan case to the point of self-destruction. This drove him and Mei Changsu apart vehemently when it came to saving one of the last Chiyan Army survivors. It was to the point I wanted to fling my laptop. You can be frustrated with him, you can berate him, but you can UNDERSTAND him. It's not the "good-just-to-be-good-can-do-no-wrong bullshit." On the topic of Prince Jing...

One of the cons I have with the series is this: The secret of Mei Changsu's identity being kept from Prince Jing.
I'll be honest. The reveal was anticlimactic, and upsetting.

There were many better moments throughout the show where it could be revealed to Prince Jing.
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS. THE ABOVE REVIEW IS ENOUGH. FIRST-TIME VIEWERS, STOP HERE!

1.) When Fei Lu said Su Zhe refers to Prince Jing as 'water buffaloo' 2.) When Su Zhe's manners and phrases slipped, becoming more Lin Shu-like (WHICH WAS SO ADORABLE WHENEVER THEY'D MEET THROUGH THE TUNNEL AH) 3.) When Consort Jing flipped out about Su Zhe's health in front of Prince Jing...then ordered him to leave...{This actually may have been the best moment. If he stayed outside the tent and heard her cry while holding Mei Changsu..oh man...} and 4.)The moment where Su Zhe was horribly sick and rambled in the night, (and Prince Jing stayed the night with him... eheheehhehe) Sorry. In any case, the scene where Prince Jing left the Emperor's interrogation and realized while walking and piecing everything together was...boring. It was sad of course, And many heaved an exclamation of "Finally!" It was not a cathartic release. And then after the reveal... their playful banter was far and in between! WHERE'S THE TEARS AND HUGGING AND ANGST?! I FEEL RAGE! The final showdown with that hard-hearted Emperor- The climax- it was so too good for words. The pain held in for years was unleashed in a court-led demand for justice. Watching the Emperor fall to the ground in guilt and horror after being force-fed his sins was bittersweet. All in all...the series was amazing. I don't know how I held out for so long :')

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Years Of Trying, I Give Up

In 2019 I dropped this drama because Ka Suo's weakness infuriated and annoyed me, as well as his incessant whining about his uselessness after he lost his spiritual power. We get it, you feel like a failure. Now do something about it.

And yet, here I am again, as I expected. Ying Kong Shi's leadership as well as the tense relationship between him and the Fire Princess was enough to launch me back in again. I'm along for the ride, just to see what their outcome will be. And my Cdrama veteran heart fears that it will be a painful end. We'll see how my rating changes as I keep watching.
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Well, I have just found out that SPOILER!!!! Ying Kong Shi and Yan Da are step-sibilings. Their relationship is doomed, YKS' newly received power on the throne is already threatened and will be short-lived, and Ka Suo is still a weak loser acting like a side character.

I think this is a good place to stop. The 6 stars I give this drama all go to Ying Kong Shi, Yan Da, Yue Shen, and the Head Dreamer. They carried the entire show.

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