A nice drama that suffers from a weak storyline
So, before anyone comes at me, this is my complete unbiased review of the drama.Story:
The story started out slow and a bit dull on the first episode, but I decided to stick through it and I fell in love with it by the second episode, it was fun, flirty and made me pause several times in other to squeal at the scenes lmao, but after the 8th episode the show got kind of boring, story wise, and never really picked up again, it's like they focused so much on the flirty scenes and left everything else as secondary, we'd literally go entire episodes with nothing really going, and the story was just stuck at certain points.
But one thing it did have going for it was that the actors made their characters work well together.
Acting:
Both actors did really good with their characters, but there was just the one little thing about Simon, it was like at times he didn't know what facial expression to make and his face and mouth did this awkward put like things especially when he was laughing and like it didn't follow the voice acting and looked off.
Costume:
Costume looked kinda cheap, but hey, I've seen way worse.
Rewatch Value
Can't say I'd watch it completely again, but I'd definitely watch compilations of the cute, flirty moments on YT.
All in all, it was ok, I was hoping it would be better but still, it was ok. Give it a try, everyone is different and has different taste and you might like a lot more.
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A disappointing watch
I have tried hard to watch this drama but it's a real challenge. The script is exceedingly talky and most episodes drag by as the characters just rehash the same things over and over. There are some good performances but not from the lead actors. Zhang Zhe Han in particular is very wooden and his character lacks any kind of organic emotions. He stares off into the distance like a piece of wood until the script says 'smile here' or 'cry here' and then goes back to staring off into the distance.From the Priest drama adaptions I have watched (this being the third) I know she has a lot of tropes that form the basis of her stories and one of the worse seems to be messing around with the true identity and nature of the characters. But when you find the characters difficult to invest in, and their emotions are more 'say' than 'show', it becomes a real challenge to stick around to episode 20 to start finding out their sad back story.
There are so many missed opportunities here that it a frustrating watch. There is little tension in scenes where things should be at stake, the story flow is often confusing, and this is partly because what should be big emotional turning points for characters just don't have any impact. The character actions don't seem to mesh with what they are saying in the dialogue. I know nothing about the director but it is a pity that so much of the dialogue is not dialogue between characters but lines recited to the scenery like a stage recitation.
This is also definitely the first BL adaption I've seen that does not give feelings of a deeper connection past 'bromance'. These two lead characters are just lonely mixed up boys who need a friend, certainly not capable of deeper emotional bonds.
And as a viewer I'm just as mixed up as they are - and that's such a disappointment.
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I've rewatched this on both youku and youtube...
TBH I didn't have much expectations for any Live Action adaptation ...but since I had some time to spare one day, I decided to casually watch this series on youtube. A few episodes later, I'm subscribed to youku and spent (a decent amount of) money unlocking the super advance episodes and even the 7 minute long extra (which consists of 3minutes+ music video collage). The thing that draws me in is the acting and fight choreography. It has been a very very long while since I last watch any wuxia, and I have pretty high expectations when it comes to fight scenes (growing up with the genre...and all)Word of Honor actually has pretty good fight scenes with good pacing. The chemistry between characters are good, like you can tell that both main characters have some background in acting (and upon some searches, I was right)
All in all, for a show that made me obsessed to the point of whining every time I have to wait (cuz I will unlock 3 episodes in advance, and the next update would be three days later T__T I had to find BTS / put OST on loop, read the original novel, listen to AD...etc just to pass time) even though there are definitely some visual issues and plot issues...but for that budget, I would say I'm very impressed. Hence the rating~
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Best Period Series side by side with The Untamed
This series is exceptionally good. The entire production is great. Love the progression of the story. Not boring. Well balanced. Each characters have their own story that connects to the plot. Very well made series.36 episodes and they added 37th episode for 11 minutes. Sadly, due to the controversy involving Zhang Zhehan, I am unable to find it in Youku anymore. It can be found in YT with commentary.
This is exceptional just like The Untamed, there is no boring scenes. Viewers payed attention for every small detail that helps enlighten the viewers.
The actors are exceptional in portraying their characters. All artists involved worked harmoniously together and fit the role they are playing. Wardrobe is exceptional. I noticed the pattern in the wardrobe during lead actors first meeting and their last shot in episode 37. Nice touch!
Additional Note:
Watched this series for the 3rd time and it felt like I am watching again for the first time. As concentrated i was in previous times i watched, I still found things i missed or forgotten. I still enjoyed watching this in Netflix (7/12/2023)
Enjoyed this a lot.
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What a Gem
After watching The Untamed, I decided to give this series a try. I had very low expectations to start because I really liked The Untamed and didn't think any other BL drama could come close. Was I wrong...To be honest, I started watching this criticizing everything because I was comparing it to The Untamed which I had just watched. Then I started to slowly love the characters, their chemistry, and the series on their own. There is no comparison. Both The Untamed and Word of Honor are wonderful dramas, but what makes them special is that they are both unique in their own ways. Once I stopped comparing them did I truly enjoy Word of Honor.
I can't say enough about the two main leads GJ and ZZH. Their chemistry was off the charts and this is due in part to the wonderful script writing and the portrayal of their characters. It is unfortunate this drama didn't get sufficient funding to boost the production, but perhaps this is what makes this drama a real gem. It is able to stand strong even with so little funding because the team put their heart and soul into the production despite all the obstacles during the making of this drama. I think this makes this drama even more beautiful.
The supporting characters were also wonderful, the costumes (though not lavish compared to well-funded dramas) were beautiful and of high quality, the music paired wonderfully to the scenes, and the directing was outstanding.
After watching each new C-Drama, I keep getting drawn to re-watching this...it's just so beautiful. I'm so happy I gave this drama a chance because it is truly a gem.
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Well, I am very pleased to say that my first initial reaction was wrong and this was a series that was well acted, and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Before the series even ended, it even managed to get me to shed a few tears, which really shows how much the storyline and acting made me care about these characters.
Also, for a bl adaptation, I was honestly very surprised at the ... blatancy of the whole thing and how much they actually managed to get past censorship. The two male leads had great chemistry together, and the acting was pretty top notch and at the very least, fairly decent, for every one of the characters.
My main minor gripes were maybe some production choices for some scenes (I'm distinctly remembering this one unintentionally hilarious scene in the later episodes where WKX looked like a bobblehead) and the ending OST, which I'm ngl, kind of took me out of some serious scenes because the singing was just... not great (though points for trying!) and it was all I could hear and focus on.
But all in all, I highly recommend giving this a watch!
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
It’s been a while since I have watched a true wuxia drama and Word of Honor delivered on all fronts. A bold BL adaptation, both leads Zhang Zehan and Gong Jun portrayed their roles convincingly, not selling this production as a “bromance” but rather a true love story as I was captivated by two gray characters who found redemption in each other. I was surprisingly shocked that this drama was not hindered by major Chinese censorship as viewers got ample amounts of flirting, affectionate hugs and uttered words of being soulmates from our two leading male protagonists. Embracing the romance was the usual wuxia elements of all sects and political factions coveting an armory of martial arts and medical knowledge as a presumed guarantee to sit atop the martial arts world. The drama unfolded slowly in connecting the sect players and their pursuit and the history of the five broken glazed shards and a key to unlocking the armory’s secrets. Besides the not so typical romance, both leads were also not your typical wuxia heroes. Zhang Zehan’s Zhou Zi Shu was introduced as a man who slaughtered a political family and innocents on the instructions of Prince Jin (later disclosed as his cousin) to further the prince’s political agenda. With regrets and the desire to leave the faction, he was granted release but became a dead man walking with few years to live. What I admired about this character was that he did not live life based on the generally accepted moral code but on his own convictions. I really loved Zhang Zehan’s performance, appreciated his subtle expressions and the quiet demeanor he exhibited. He was always calm except in Wen Kexing’s presence; the “wooing” process was wonderful to witness, at first he was exasperated with his provocative manner but was still curious and drawn to Wen Kexing. I could not help but ponder how difficult it would be to depict this character and felt Zhang Zehan gave the character the right amount of restraint and touch to perfectly complement the lively and complicated Wen Kexing.
Gong Jun was equally praiseworthy as Wen Kexing, a grinning and flirtatious man that hid a painful and mysterious past. In fact, viewers were left guessing for a good part of the drama his true identity and his connection to Zhou Zi Shu. As bits and pieces of his background unveiled, viewers saw his struggle to live for Zhou Zi Shu - fearful of his leadership of the notorious Ghost Valley being disclosed yet tortured by the past in trying to right the wrongs he and his family suffered. Gong Jun was wonderful in his interpretation; he was so emotive with his eyes in demonstrating the many sides of his character and striking the perfect balance of jauntiness and vulnerability onscreen.
A great drama was not possible without an impressive supporting cast. Gu Xiang was delightful as a spunky, mischievous servant/sister to Wen Kexing and I enjoyed her romance with Cao Weining. The girl was outspoken and the man was noble and shy and they just fit wonderfully. Their last scenes were so epic and Gu Xiang’s rage was beyond my expectations! Must see episode! And my baby, Zhang Chengling! I just wanted to hug this innocent boy and nurture him. Absolutely adored the family dynamics of Zhou Zi Shu, Wen Kexing and Zhang Chengling and loved all their parts together. Ye Bai Yi was another notable character. His arrogant personality and unyielding attitude frequently collided with Wen Kexing but when push came to shove, they had the same goal. Last but not least, special mention to the Scorpion King. The character was a complete scene stealer; my eyes couldn’t help but follow him even if he shared the stage with the main antagonist. I was also slightly uncomfortable with the disturbing dynamic with his godfather but despite the creep factor, my eyes could not look away when he appeared. Superb performances all around from the supporting team!
If I were to name faults with this production, I did feel that it started slowly. I did step away a couple of times before continuing with my viewing experience. Although I enjoyed the courting and flirty development of the male leads at the start but I felt the drama was overloaded with many types of sects that did not necessary move the plot along. In fact I was overwhelmed by the sect names at the beginning, thinking they might have major roles later on in the drama but did not. The drama did not grab my full attention until episode 20 where the pace picked up tremendously and the storyline was gripping from that point forward. The fighting choreography was also very well done for the most part, though I felt that they were too many still, posing shots for my liking but this is at best a very minor criticism.
Fans of the drama urged me to watch episode 37 (an 11-minute epilogue) to Zhou Zi Shu and Wen Kexing’s story and I did. To be honest, I felt episode 37 was not necessary because I was perfectly satisfied with the ending in episode 36. Fate is cruel and yes, my eyes were brimming with tears at their outcome but I was left feeling their immense love for one another. There were sacrifices, a willingness to forsake their lives for one another and their continuous support of each other despite opposition from the martial arts world. Their love is truly admirable and the one last act at the end is so in line with both characters’ personalities and I personally found it very beautiful that their love is so enduring and that this kind of love is able to be shown in its full glory on screen. I’m not sure what the BL drama landscape will be in the foreseeable future with the recent crackdowns on this genre but I hope Word of Honor is the footprint for all future BL drama because love is love and as a viewer, I just want to be moved by the story regardless of gender. Bravo to the Word of Honor team! A very well deserved 9.0 out of 10.0!
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was the plot concrete? hmm nah not really
does it get confusing? yes
bUT do I have masochistic tendencies? no doubt about it
despite some characters popping in only to be cardboard characters afterwards and the potential kinda not really there, this is the type of drama where i got sucked in by the chemistry of the main leads
if this was twillight, bella left the room for jacob and edward to happen. i said what i said. i'm not taking it back.
the appeal is there. i mean c'mon we've got the flirting, revenge plot, the angst and the yearning. the story is quite interesting at first glance and a lot of potential for some parts to get that extra flavor. so, the downside is how the story loses its grip to create much more impact. the buildup is there but then the climax is not that satisfactory.
if the special episode was added to the ending, it wouldn't have felt underwhelming. regardless, i have a soft spot for wen kexing and zhou shu which is why i enjoyed this drama more than i should have. perhaps, this is going under my guilty pleasure list.
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
This is a hidden Gem!
This is such a hidden Gem! I first encountered this drama through YouTube, as it was on one of the recommendation in my dashboard, and I was like "Word of Honour", the name sounded familiar, and then I remembered I've seen this name through an online site where I was looking at MDZS / CQL merchandize haha. So I decided to check out this drama on my end, knowing it came from a BL novel.This, I would have to say exceeded my expectations because there are scenes indeed, I wonder "How did this drama passed censorship", considering this is the second BL drama I've seen, after Chen Qing Ling (The Untamed), I would have to say both these adaptations are loveable in it's own way, and you can feel the love between the main leads in their respective stories, that while I will say that The Untamed (CQL) touch on the subtle side of their love, although some parts aren't quite subtle about it, 'Word of Honour' actually surpasses that to another level, that you don't see them as 'brothers', but them as 'Soulmates/lovers'. Which yeah, I agree with the fans, "how did this pass censorship", but I am not complaining LOL, since I love the chemistry between the main leads Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu.
My favourite character in this story, I got to say Wen Ke Xing, because he's so charismatic to me, I love how he's adorable/sweet/protective when it comes to Zhou Zi Shu (MC), but he is ruthless/shows no mercy to those who deserves it or hurts Zhou Zi Shu. In terms of ending, I am talking about the 'uncensored' version, I am quite amaze with that ending, especially the part when Wen Ke Xing actually said "love you" to Zhou Zi Shu, waaaah *surprise surprise!!* although he couldn't hear him, but waaaaah, that's BOLD!!! Kudos to the production Team here, and the script writer, too bad when it comes to the dubbing and the revising of the drama, they toned it down, but since I watched the final episode uncensored, I got the happy ending, and the confession that I wanted. Although I am sad that Wen Ke Xing hair is white in the end T___T but he is now an immortal like Zhou Zi Shu, and we saw how happy both of them were, so I am content. In terms of ending, in the adaptation side of things, I love what I was given in Word of Honour (where I see them side by side happily like this) better than CQL, because the moment when Lan Zhan suggested to walk separate paths, he's sadly, no longer the canon Lan Zhan to me, because Canon Lan Zhan wouldn't suggest that, ever, I still wish that scene was done differently in CQL, and it always hurts me to go back and watch that scene since it was a slap every time, when I watch it urgggghhh.
I am sad when Gu Xiang and Wei Ning died T___T and such tragic deaths too!!!! I HATE that character (not spoiling) who killed them URGH!!! But anyways, I personally really love, enjoyed this drama, I love the OST's in this drama too, and I love Wen Ke Xing and Zhou Zi Shu chemistry!! Wen Ke Xing is such a flirt hahahaha, but he's only like that when it comes to Zhou Zi Shu so he's forgiven XDD I am so tempted to read the novel now that I finished the drama, stayed up late every night just to marathon this on my end!!
So do I recommend this drama? Hell yes!!! If you are open for BL, you can watch it!! Although they are considered 'Bromance', but to me, they are a couple, with how they are portrayed that way!! And I am glad!! Kudos to the script writer and production team, and yes, the actors too!! I love this drama on my end and will definitely rewatch this again! <3
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Bordering on a Masterpiece
I started this drama immediately after finishing watching The Untamed, which many viewers commented was a masterpiece. However, after watching Word of Honor, between the two, it is the true masterpiece. Oftentimes when it comes to Chinese dramas, I find them to be far too long with too many filler episodes or repeats of similar events; it gets tedious and boring. This drama is exceedingly rare in that I wouldn't have minded in the slightest if it was slightly longer. The last five or so episodes seemed rushed and the ending felt abrupt, not to mention depressing. With that, be sure to watch Episode 37 (its not on Netflix if that's where you're watching) as it gives a far more positive conclusion. Overall though, I didn't feel like there were really any completely pointless episodes. There were a few scenes were the dialogue dragged a bit, but not horribly so.The story is solid. It flows well and really only leaves one unanswered question that immediately comes to mind, which is pretty good all things considered. The dialogue overall feels realistic and not forced or awkward other than at a few points. The story telling with flashbacks also worked well I felt. My only complaint in that regard was how many characters or younger versions of characters were introduced at once. It got a little confusing trying to pair names with faces and what their importance was. I also liked that the villains all got the endings that they deserved. Dramas like to have these absolutely abhorrent characters who commit unspeakable crimes and then they get off easy, either being allowed to commit suicide or dying from an illness or something equally lame. That did not happen here which I liked. The characters are nuanced and flawed and realistic, or as realistic as they can be. No character is perfect, they all have their faults with some realizing those faults and striving to overcome them, others who realize those faults and don't care, and still others who are completely oblivious. There's a good mix. Another aspect I really appreciated is that the villain wasn't immediately given away. I hate when dramas have a character smirking evilly in the background and then act like its a big shock when its confirmed. Here I was unsure of who was the true villain for a decent while. I had my ideas, but they did such a good job of keeping me on my toes and second guessing myself. I really enjoyed that.
The acting was fantastic. Again, this drama is a rarity in that I didn't feel that any one actor was truly lacking. The chemistry between Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu was flawless and their relationship was lovely to watch develop. As a side note, I was both surprised but also enjoyed their obvious romance. In The Untamed, the two lead's relationship is only hinted at, I assumed due to Chinese censorship, but in Word of Honor there was absolutely no denying that those two were a couple. Anyway, I also really loved the chemistry between Kexing, Zishu, and Chengling. Their relationship grew so much over the course of the drama and their little family was just perfect. I could go on and on about how much I enjoyed everyone's performance, but I'll leave it there.
Costuming as with most Chinese dramas was gorgeous. I appreciated the way their costumes reflected which face they were showing to the world. For example, Wen Kexing tended to wear more pastel colors when in the human world with Zhou Zishu and red when acting as ghost chief. Scorpion King wore black and leather when acting as Scorpion King but lighter colored, flowing robes when he was acting as the dutiful son. I also liked that Gu Xiang's clothing was made to be practical but also flattering. My favorite costume of hers is what amounts to a short layered dress with pants underneath; practical and feminine. The wigs, as always, looked terribly fake from certain angles, but I've gotten to a point where I'm not particularly fazed by that anymore since its so common.
The OST was gorgeous, I loved both the opening and closing songs and everything in between. The music was woven in flawlessly and really helped to enhance scenes and set the mood.
I will conclude by simply saying that this a very strong, well done drama and I highly, highly recommend watching it. It is one that I will absolutely re-watch in the future.
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Cette critique peut contenir des spoilers
A refreshing watch
Word of Honor is a breath of fresh air within the highly saturated Chinese drama market. I can finally watch a drama where most of the cast's intelligence is intact, and most of the plot makes sense. A lot of people think that the first few episodes are boring. I beg to disagree. The 1st episode is extremely important to the plot as a whole; if you skip the 1st episode, you might not be able to understand the story. If you are expecting a highly grandiose story or plotline, then I don't think this is for you. The Wuxia elements and storytelling is average, but it makes sense. I have watched many Chinese dramas, and you would be surprised at how many of them fail to even tell a basic story. I was actually surprised at how many details and foreshadowing the screenwriter put into the dialogues when watching it for a second time. The characters' interactions are also interesting, and the growth/change is very clear. The side characters have their purpose and all of them have interesting plotlines.Honestly, this drama is nothing extraordinary compared to the hundreds of other dramas in mydramalist. Still, it stands out within the Chinese drama market because of its complete storyline, good acting, and just the overall dedication to the drama. When the market is saturated with terrible plotlines, terrible actors, and thoughtless production crews, SHL's staff and production crew surprised me at how far they were willing to go for the audiences. They re-edited scenes in different episodes due to fans' requests, and they got the voice actor to redub episode 14. They edited out an ost and then re-edited it in again for the fans. They did their very best with a 4.3 million budget, the lowest BL budget this year. They actually had to cut out 9 episodes by the end because they ran out of funds. The ending after ep 30 was rushed and the plot started going off the rails during ep 31-32. Was a pity? Yes. Could they have done better? Yes. But I was not angry at the outcome of this drama. Overall, this was a drama that has exceeded my expectations.
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