My issue with some dramas is that they can't figure out how to set the scene for the story and what they want to show us. In this show, all eleven main and supporting characters have a decent screen time. Apart from our two leads, we have to see a backstory to each of the supporting characters, and some are longer than others. So, we get these weird chunks being awkwardly combined to tie it back to the original story because it's looping into its own side story now. This meant that we see less of our two main character's relationship develop and a messy plot trying to be coherent. It is okay to have all of that in one drama if you blend it well together to make it smooth. Writers have to understand that less is more.

The T4 arc sprinkles itself sporadically throughout the show and helps drive it into being an action-crime drama. Because this was our biggest conflict in the drama, it was tiring waiting for it to happen while we got filler scenes. We didn't get much suspense or that "big bang" from the sequence of events in the drama. It was not as engaging as an action drama should be.

The foreshadowing in the drama isn't subtle, and when the foreshadowing occurs, it's a dead giveaway that something soon will happen. Whether it's through words of caution from one character to another, items that get handed off, or actions that get taken, it's quite predictable.


ACTING/CAST/CHARACTERS
Johnny Huang isn't new to the world of action-military-crime-drama films or shows. We've seen him in Operation Red Sea (2018) and The Thunder (2019), and he has several future works within the realm of action. With his manly looks, figure, and acting skills, Johnny Huang can easily pass as Liang Mu Ze, the captain of the Thunder Commandos. Unfortunately, Liang Mu Ze's role in the show is to be Xia Chu's love interest. This makes his character dynamics fall quite flat, as there's not much going, except being a supporting figure to Xia Chu and fighting for his country.

"I hope you could win. I hope the past won't hurt you." While Liang Mu Ze's character is an emotional support system for Xia Chu, he does it perfectly. He will sit and listen to her rants and rambles about her problems. In some cases, he's present to listen to her problems. Other times, he would actively try to help her solve her problems. When he sees that she wants to make an impulse decision that she may regret, he deters her away from it and decides for her, knowing that it's what's in her heart and one where she won't regret. This reduces the number of external misunderstandings between the two of them.

Li Qin is known for her historical costume roles, and this time plays in a modern setting as a resident surgeon at a military hospital. I found that the drama mainly focused on Xia Chu and her journey. Similar to Liang Mu Ze, she didn't have any big character arc or goals. So, watching countless scenes of Xia Chu in the hospital felt meaningless as it did not do much to help move the plot or character forward. Some scenes should have helped add depth to Xia Chu's character but often fails to present it well. My favorite characteristic of Xia Chu is how she stays true to herself and her views. Xia Chu's actions and words justify itself to match her character.

"It's not because of him per se, but it's because of the memories." Our female lead, Xia Chu, draws a clear line of how she feels about Zhou Ran and is mature about it. She doesn't give off wishy-washy feelings based on her past. Nor does she throw shade at Mi Gu for having feelings towards Zhou Ran.

OVERALL
There were not many overarching themes in the drama. However, two that I found most prominent were dedication to one's career and love and sacrifice. When it came to dedication to one's career, it sometimes didn't feel like passion. There were several moments where the characters lacked the conviction to make use that they feel passionate about their career. The drama gave them to us through words instead of their actions. It wasn't until later on, when we would start to see the lengths that these characters would go through to help their patients or fight for their country, that I felt these characters were passionate about the career paths that they have chosen.

Love and sacrifice are one of the bigger themes in the drama. We would see the two leads often feel like they need to make sacrifices for their love to make it work or that they would have to give up their love life to pursue their career. Many scenes made it seem like you have to choose one or the other when you fall in love. It's either your career or your love life. For example, in one of Xia Chu's conversations with Xiao Xiao about love and sacrificing one's career, Xiao Xiao said, "Why am I the one to switch jobs? Why can't he?" I applauded Xiao Xiao for this answer, as women are often the ones who have to sacrifice their careers to make a relationship work.

Did I love it? Not really. Do I hate it? Not really. For me, the last 10 episodes were where the show really starts to pick up, probably to close up all the loose strings.

This drama is for you if you like:
-Military and doctor trope dramas
-Johnny Huang or Li Qin
-Slow burn romance

This drama isn't for you if you dislike:
-Clingy second male leads
-Best friend of female lead that isn't so smart
-A lot of focus on side stories of supporting casts