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Fun But Illogical Guilty Pleasure
Xue Fangfei was murdered by her husband and assumes the identity of a noble girl. Using her new identity, she executes a plan to avenge herself and her family. Acting is top notch, especially by the villains. You have to throw logic out the window quite often, but it's a very addictive and enjoyable show. Despite the real life age gap between the leads, they have great chemistry. Highly recommend you watch for yourself and make your own assessment.
What I loved:
- Main character chemistry was fire. I love that male lead knows who she was and embraces her for it despite more patriarchal values in the past. The romance is slow burn, but I don't mind that at all.
- Villains were layered and weren't evil for the sake of being evil (except for some side ones). While despicable and you want them to get what's coming to them, you still felt a sense of sympathy. The actors casted were also exceptional in their roles.
- Lovable side characters. I love her maid, cousins, friends, maternal family, and the male lead's sidekicks a lot.
- Storyline was well paced and kept audiences engaged (the last 5 episodes were too fast, more on that later)
- The drama balances horror, comedy, and thriller elements very well.
- Directing and cinematography were quite beautiful 90% of the time.
What I hated [SPOILERS AHEAD]:
- It's like the scriptwriter finally remembered they still needed to explore the male lead's arc in the last 4-5 episodes, and basically rushed the entire background story around him, included a rebellion, and a final battle. I felt I needed more time in this arc, more scenes to understand the turmoil he went through without his parents. His resentment against his grandfather was basically resolved with one little chat after the female lead put them in a room together. It's like they never had the opportunity to talk before? I felt like Xiao Heng didn't get the time and development it needed to push the character farther. He's almost relegated to being supporting eye candy that conveniently saves our heroine when she needs it. Even though it was supposed to be a relationship with mutual benefits, she definitely came out on top.
- After the court scene where she pleads the case for Xue Fangfei's dad, I felt no real resolution. Xiao Heng was in charge of investigating it, but I didn't see a clear conclusion on the case, and whether she truly cleared her name after her ex muddied it.
- I absolutely hated the last 15 minutes of the drama with a passion. The unnecessary deaths of his two trusted sidekicks did nothing to drive the plot except to create shock value. Producer Yu Zheng said it's a happy ending, and it undoubtedly is. But is it logical writing to make the male lead survive an incoming onslaught of enemy troops when he is heavily injured, his side kicks are dead, one of which was shot to death by a group of archers? Typical Yu Zheng. He never knows when less is more. He should've just ended it after they got married or just showed him winning the battle, but the troll is an attention seeker.
- There were a lot of instances where you just had to throw logic out the window. How did Xue Fangfei end up by the river when she was buried alive? How can no one notice she was missing from her room? Why would a special army let rebel troops in through the gates just because some random scholar had the military emblem? Why would they continue to try to kill their former commander just because the same crazy scholar ordered them to when he is obviously off the rails?
- There were an incredible amount of close ups to people's faces. Sometimes it enhances the moment, creates tension, etc. Sometimes it's confusing. In the final battle, they kept closing up on the enemy commander's face, and I kept thinking I should know who he is, but I don't. He's just a rando.
All in all, one of the most fun watches in the year, but far from perfect. First 30-35 episodes were at least an 8.5 for me, but the last 5 episodes were a train wreck closer to a 5.
What I loved:
- Main character chemistry was fire. I love that male lead knows who she was and embraces her for it despite more patriarchal values in the past. The romance is slow burn, but I don't mind that at all.
- Villains were layered and weren't evil for the sake of being evil (except for some side ones). While despicable and you want them to get what's coming to them, you still felt a sense of sympathy. The actors casted were also exceptional in their roles.
- Lovable side characters. I love her maid, cousins, friends, maternal family, and the male lead's sidekicks a lot.
- Storyline was well paced and kept audiences engaged (the last 5 episodes were too fast, more on that later)
- The drama balances horror, comedy, and thriller elements very well.
- Directing and cinematography were quite beautiful 90% of the time.
What I hated [SPOILERS AHEAD]:
- It's like the scriptwriter finally remembered they still needed to explore the male lead's arc in the last 4-5 episodes, and basically rushed the entire background story around him, included a rebellion, and a final battle. I felt I needed more time in this arc, more scenes to understand the turmoil he went through without his parents. His resentment against his grandfather was basically resolved with one little chat after the female lead put them in a room together. It's like they never had the opportunity to talk before? I felt like Xiao Heng didn't get the time and development it needed to push the character farther. He's almost relegated to being supporting eye candy that conveniently saves our heroine when she needs it. Even though it was supposed to be a relationship with mutual benefits, she definitely came out on top.
- After the court scene where she pleads the case for Xue Fangfei's dad, I felt no real resolution. Xiao Heng was in charge of investigating it, but I didn't see a clear conclusion on the case, and whether she truly cleared her name after her ex muddied it.
- I absolutely hated the last 15 minutes of the drama with a passion. The unnecessary deaths of his two trusted sidekicks did nothing to drive the plot except to create shock value. Producer Yu Zheng said it's a happy ending, and it undoubtedly is. But is it logical writing to make the male lead survive an incoming onslaught of enemy troops when he is heavily injured, his side kicks are dead, one of which was shot to death by a group of archers? Typical Yu Zheng. He never knows when less is more. He should've just ended it after they got married or just showed him winning the battle, but the troll is an attention seeker.
- There were a lot of instances where you just had to throw logic out the window. How did Xue Fangfei end up by the river when she was buried alive? How can no one notice she was missing from her room? Why would a special army let rebel troops in through the gates just because some random scholar had the military emblem? Why would they continue to try to kill their former commander just because the same crazy scholar ordered them to when he is obviously off the rails?
- There were an incredible amount of close ups to people's faces. Sometimes it enhances the moment, creates tension, etc. Sometimes it's confusing. In the final battle, they kept closing up on the enemy commander's face, and I kept thinking I should know who he is, but I don't. He's just a rando.
All in all, one of the most fun watches in the year, but far from perfect. First 30-35 episodes were at least an 8.5 for me, but the last 5 episodes were a train wreck closer to a 5.
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