An Xiang Lai (2025)

Rollercoaster ride of emotions.

The story: The surviving daughter of the Lin family comes back to seek revenge, after her parents death.

When I set foot on this drama I was mesmerized by the cast, the cinematography, back ground music and the acting. I immediately understood that this drama would be great to watch. Although the story starts in a very simple way we often see. This drama turns the avenging FL's plot to another level.
The Chemistry is off the charts and the love scenes between ML and FL was breathtaking. I could just blush seeing them getting close. And then We had some violent scenes following those sweet moments, make it a rollercoaster ride to watch.
So you have to buckle up because, like a lot of Chinese republican dramas, the world is full of dangers and the characters a subjected to them.
This drama also made me cry and I have to give them a good point for that. I was so into the story that I actually felt very bad for the characters.
I really liked the story of this bullied ML, whose resillience lead him to finally get justice. He reminded me of "The Count of Monte Cristo". Like him, Zhang Han Yi's patience and perseverance underline the idea that justice, although delayed, ultimately triumphs.
This drama was really a treat to me and despite having to close my eyes before the graphic violence at time, I enjoyed every bit of it.

Pros :
- Amazing Strategist FL and amazing genius incense master ML.
- Great witty and intelligent leads.
- The chemistry is top notch between the leads and also between the genereral and his sister.
- Belivable kiss scene. Frankly I was very happy the actors could deliver.
- The acting is great.
- Top notch quality : great directing and cinematography, acting, costumes hair and makeup...
- Surprising twist and turns. Some characters actions are very unique. I so them cross taboos in this show. (*_*)
- Like in all Republican Era dramas. Anything can happen, I mean really anything.
- Strategies and mind games were great to watch to me.
- Morals are good.


Cons :
- Graphic violence .
- The ending was justified but I would have liked another one.
- Stunt accesories and special effects makeup could have been handled differently.

Overall:
If you like a drama with great chemistry, a story that has a lot of twist and turns, with top notch technical quality and you can beare with some graphic violent scenes. This drama is for you.

Lire davantage

Gorgeous Drama Bogged Down By "TorturePron"

If you've ever wanted to watch a show where you question if the sole purpose by the end was to see JUST what they could get away with without being censored.... this is possibly your drama.

Positives... The acting was mostly good, the cinematography was constantly good and the sound design was phenomenal.

Where it begins to fail is that it loses narrative structure as it devolves further and further into shock and awe territory.

By the end you are LITERALLY no longer even going "WTF" because by that point you've honestly seen it all. And I do mean this "LITERALLY" as for example... there is a scene of one guy urinating on another.

There are multiple triggers in this show and many of them are again seemingly only played for shock value with very little narrative need.

So... who is this show FOR?
If you are looking for something different.
If you are curious about just WHAT can be shown in mini dramas now apparently.
If you can suspend almost ALL sense of reality.
If the emotion you want to feel most is rage at the injustice of the world.
If you don't require a lot of skinship or "traditional" romantic trappings.

Final Rating: 7.5/10
The narrative is bogged down TOO much by all the shock value. If there had been less the rating would probably be higher as again, the production qualities were quite good.

Spoiler comment for more wtfery.

Lire davantage