lemam
This review may contain spoilers
Good storyline but missed the mark on casting
Overall the storyline was good, production & costume quality were good. My main issue with the series is the casting. While most actors did ok with their individual parts (except Xu Kai Cheng) the casting and chemistry were seriously lacking. They really missed the mark on the casting with this one. Especially w/ the ML and FL leads.
While ML and FL acting was decent - they didn't quite fit together. They really lacked chemistry and I didn't root for them. Jian Ming had a more youthful look but his character was supposed to be quite older than the Haishi. He was a grown adult when they met and she a child. But when she became an adult he still appeared younger than her. They should've casted an older actor for the ML or a younger actress for the FL.
ML (Willam Chan) as Fang Jian Ming - this is the first time I've seen this actor in a role. He was not able to exude the tough, stoic demeaner that the role entails (such as actors like Wallace Chung in Sword and Brocade or Lin Geng Xin in Princess Agents). But in the last few episodes where he was more carefree & and happy, and then the tragic ending he did really well portraying the exhaustion and utter sadness.
FL (Yang Mi) - she did fine as she typically does. But I couldn't help but feel like she played the exact same character/acting as she did in Legend of Fuyao. Took me a bit to get accustomed to her real voice.
2ML (Xu Kai Cheng) - the Emperor. I had zero empathy for him. He was supposed to portray a tormented, conflicted emperor with morals and compassion, but he just came across as an unhinged sadistic lunatic. He completely overacted. Scenes of his abuse towards Tilan were uncomfortable to watch.
2FL (Tilan) - Started off w/ some edge to her but fizzled out and became a limp doormat. She overplayed the sweet forgiving angelic aspect.
3ML (Zouying) - he did fine, I liked his loyal/playful bond w/ Haishi. But his portrayal of the evil twin brother was overacted and not believable.
3FL (Zheliu) - she did a good job. this is the first role I actually like this actress in. I couldn't stand her in all the other series I've seen in her.
While ML and FL acting was decent - they didn't quite fit together. They really lacked chemistry and I didn't root for them. Jian Ming had a more youthful look but his character was supposed to be quite older than the Haishi. He was a grown adult when they met and she a child. But when she became an adult he still appeared younger than her. They should've casted an older actor for the ML or a younger actress for the FL.
ML (Willam Chan) as Fang Jian Ming - this is the first time I've seen this actor in a role. He was not able to exude the tough, stoic demeaner that the role entails (such as actors like Wallace Chung in Sword and Brocade or Lin Geng Xin in Princess Agents). But in the last few episodes where he was more carefree & and happy, and then the tragic ending he did really well portraying the exhaustion and utter sadness.
FL (Yang Mi) - she did fine as she typically does. But I couldn't help but feel like she played the exact same character/acting as she did in Legend of Fuyao. Took me a bit to get accustomed to her real voice.
2ML (Xu Kai Cheng) - the Emperor. I had zero empathy for him. He was supposed to portray a tormented, conflicted emperor with morals and compassion, but he just came across as an unhinged sadistic lunatic. He completely overacted. Scenes of his abuse towards Tilan were uncomfortable to watch.
2FL (Tilan) - Started off w/ some edge to her but fizzled out and became a limp doormat. She overplayed the sweet forgiving angelic aspect.
3ML (Zouying) - he did fine, I liked his loyal/playful bond w/ Haishi. But his portrayal of the evil twin brother was overacted and not believable.
3FL (Zheliu) - she did a good job. this is the first role I actually like this actress in. I couldn't stand her in all the other series I've seen in her.
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