The Ingenious One (2023)

Don't upset those in power

This drama centred around Yun Xiang, an orphan who survived the massacre of his village. He was brought up by the mysterious head of Yantai with a hidden identity. Yun Xiang was trained to became a master of pretence and strategies. Like most dramas of this genre, he insisted on investigating the mastermind behind the massacre, although against the command of his Shifu (teacher).

The drama was interesting as the people hiding their identity was not only the head of Yantai. The drama was a battle of wits and cunning between Yun Xiang and Nan Gong Fang who appeared to be from a rival sect. But it got boring after each identity was revealed.

I am not a supporter of child emperors and lineage, and a believer of: may the best person win. I think only when the upright and capable become the leader can then a country prosper. I did not favour either side of the power struggle, as it was between loyalists to lineage and a capable Prince who was not so upright and did not care that much for the people and would do whatever to achieve his end.

This drama scored well on an excellent cast who performed well, good looking actors/actresses, and appropriate backdrop. Costume was mediocre but fits the purpose. Not a drama of grandiose. Overall, still a good piece of entertainment.

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Dissapointing

so I know this review might be controversial but honestly I did begin watching this drama with some expectations and I have to say the first eleven episodes were quite good, but I just felt his motive and his drive of revenging the Luo family was kinda dragged along, he had so much obsession about this that it honestly didn’t make any sense for them to even include the part of him being a Yuntai sect member for all those years, he does “learn” to treat people differently but it still doesn’t change the fact that he’s very manipulative, honey mouthed and he would use anyone in order to achieve the “bigger picture” overall I was somewhat dissatisfied with this series and it’s not something I would watch agian .

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Finally something interesting.

Haven't finished this yet, but its a 8 for me at the moment just because ..
After watching a few great ones, some commercial entertaining few and a wholeeeeeee lot of plagiarised disappointments... i am thankful for one that has yet to make me roll my eyes or irritate me with-

- with skinny waists and hairsprayed hair men ( just because they draw it like that doesn't mean you copy it completely)
- ugly translucent chiffon pastel costumes
- LOUD and screaming mothers, nannies or maids (
- ridiculously ear piercing OVER choreographed fantasy fight sound effects
- eye roll jealous sisters HELLOOOO some innovative creativity please?

China has SO much talent .. so KUDOS to the one who made this one happen.
A great ending would be a huge bonus, at the moment i i really hope the ending doesn't make me want to jump off a cliff.

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Series personal review

IQIYI Paid Subscription

Since I am not done watching this series, I will reserve editing this review after I complete the series. For now, my thoughts on this series:

I added this to my watch list due to their interesting promotion of it.
●The story started in a slow pace but it has something (maybe charm?) that kept my interest.
●Few times, I got confused and didnt understand what was going on causing me to backtrack few episodes and rewatched them again. I realized this is not the kind of series I can watch a few episodes, set aside to watch another series and then return to. It is a series wherein you truly need to focus and pay attention to fully enjoy the series. It will hook you like being hooked on solving a puzzle. It has a complicated story that kept me interested. There are a lot of twists and turns that are interconnected. Most times when I thought the mystery or situation was solved, it will show that it is connected to a bigger mystery or situation. It seems like a roller coaster.
●Excellent artists doing excellent work. Each character was portrayed convincingly. Chemistry between artists is good. The acting of all casts are superb.
●Director Yau showed his talent in creating an enjoyable series from a novel that is pure drama. His work with Mirror: Twin Cities is good but I think this series truly showed his talent in directing. His idea of focusing on actors facial expressions especially the eyes, fit perfectly to explain scenes with deceit and tricks. A viewer can understand and read the scene without words.
●cinematography is effective and smart. The use of lighting at proper scenes and adding blurred esthetic to give the notion of memories or thoughts were done perfectly.
●

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Not Great

*Minor spoiler

Eight episodes in and while the pacing of the plot has stayed steady since the first episode, it has also yet triggered much intrigue. While the ML did a decent job in portraying his character, the dialogue he was given wasn't great. The FL was a dull and unimpressive character, and there was zero chemistry between the two. The relationships the ML develops so far also doesn't feel natural. I had planned to give the series a few more episodes to see if it better evolved but the cringe scene with the rescued little girl solidified the decision to drop. She's supposed to be an orphaned child who was then placed into an abusive environment and witnessed multiple murders. Yet, she very oddly breaks into a happy song (with poor dubbing) the same night with over-exaggerated acting and then turns into an obnoxious spoiled brat the next day? This further highlights the misplacement of emotive focuses such as how the series attempts to lighten up the mood every so often by switching to playful music and banter in between, but it just doesn't feel natural and it doesn't help with the chemistry-building.

The biggest positive about the series are the action scenes. The fight scenes were done really well. I just wish the plot and dialogue matched.

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I'm so done with C-Romance-Dramas

All in all a really decent show. Amazing OST, great acting all around, nice intriguing story but these retards just can't get the romance right.

I don't know what it is, is it a subtle feminist propaganda or what but it seems that the women are exempt from all responsibility when it comes to romance. Yun Xiang betrays his friends, he apologizes, but when she betrays him, the creators are close to making him getting on his knees and apologizing to her. What happened to common sense?

So done with this drivel and this propaganda that is tearing apart the western world. Such a shame it found its way into east as well. Or maybe it's always been there and I'm just more sensitive to it now.

I mean it goes both ways but seems to be more slanted towards women.

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