Over Rated

Watched this series because of Zhao Lu Si and Li Hong Yi and see the high rating of 8+ (After I watch this I wonder how people rate this...) Hard core fans?

40 episodes is too much, 20 will be just nice. The story is very long winding, it's only about a love story with "conflict" in martial arts. Unnecessary episodes which at the end also does not make viewer want to see more.
Acting wise only main lead acting plus Liu Yi tong who portrayed Qin Liu Feng is good, the rest very unnatural.
First view episodes are ok, but then draggy until lost the essence of the story. So whoever looking at Zhao Lu Si drama, you may still watch this if you have nothing better to do and want to see her acting.

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Over rated

First series of Esther Yu, now I'm really wondering why she is so famous with that kind of acting skill?

About the series:
1. 1st episode is very boring and not clear of what the series going to lead us to.
2. The next 10 series are quite entertaining with the humor and fast pacing story lines, but then afterwards the stories become dull and boring.
3. It is strange to have a so called "heroine" who can't or never fight at all ==> referring to the main female lead, whose facial expression is very dull and only able to act cute
4. second male lead acting also not great, flat facial expression and no chemistry with the second female lead

Overall, I do enjoy some part of the series, especially the beginning, but afterwards the story lines just draggy and acting from the main actress really lame make it quite difficult to watch.

No offense to Esther Yu hard core fans.. this is purely my personal opinion. I shall see her other work to make sure whether she can act or if this is her character in this series.
But looking at the background of her character, she is not supposed to be a "cute" person, from her modern era character she is not with that cute personality, why suddenly when she become the heroine character in the novel she become overly unnecessary "cute"? (to be precise : tried to act cute, but does not cute at all)

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Unconditional Love

I have finished watching this series 2 months ago and re-watched it 1 time. This is one of the Chinese drama that can make me engaged, addictive! Yes of course there's flaws, but not that significant to rate the drama low.
And after watching the series I also read the novel (haven't finished)

So so far this is the justification to give high ratings for Love and Redemption:
Story : Even though there's some difference between the novel and the drama, but the main take away message from both drama and novel is still there, which is unconditional love. Admire Si Feng's persistent love for 10 live times, and finally he can harvest his hard labor and got Xuan Ji love in return. This teaches us as human that to love is to give not expecting any return, today human society need to go back to this basic principle of love. (not self-centered, consider others). It just to me there's too many story about Ming Yan and Ling Long which is unnecessary and not really related to the whole story, maybe just wanted to give more screen time to the actor / actress? But this make me deduct the point from the story.

Acting : I love the acting of the casts (except for Ming Yan, I found his acting is terrible and annoying). But the excellent acting from the rest, especially the main female and male lead can cover that.
Female Lead : you can see clearly the character development of Xuan Ji and it's portrayed very well by Yuan Bing Yan. From the innocent Xuan Ji to the Killing God of War. Portraying so many characters in one series is not easy, but she did very well here, and the acting is not overacting it's natural.
Male Lead : actually there's not much challenge to portray Si Feng, honesty this character quite similar with the one Cheng Yi played on Noble Aspiration (aside to the love story). Thumbs up for all the spitting blood and crying scene, oh he did cried a lot and I believe it's not easy for a guy to cry. And the cry was not merely tears, but with red eyes (so for sure not using fake tears). And of course the holding hand scene with Luo Huo Ji Du, he act very well there.

Music : Nice music, and very well placed throughout the series.

The characters that I like from this series: Teng She

So overall I recommend to watch Love and Redemption and hope you also enjoy it like me

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Politics, War and Romance

This is my first series with Dilraba as the main female lead. At first a bit hesitate to watch this, as I don't really like the male lead.
Overall this series is good, the story flow and paced nicely, not too much romance, just enough. Not too heavy with the politics, just enough for the entertainment purpose. The war scenes are good, fighting scene also good. Recommended to those looking for great story with politics and war and a hint of romance. Not heavy politics like 3 kingdoms and stuff, but entertaining.
Some scenes a bit weird though, especially the horse riding scene, really really fake and not natural. In episode one when Li chang ge ride the horse, can see that she is not really riding the horse but something else and got other scene also the same result. But this is a minor.
Story wise, yet to read the novel..but I think as usual there's deviation with the novel.
In my opinion Ashile Shun should be play by other actor with bigger build and face to suit the grassland people image. Leo Wu is too small for that.
Overall all casts acting are good, especially Zhao Lu Si here, as we can see her great acting transformation from a cry baby princess to a strong princess.

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Great Acting, Poor storyline

Overall this movie is watchable, thumbs up to all the casts for the great acting.
As a "Thriller" movie, there's no thrilling moments at all, no surprise, nothing, maybe just a little bit mystery that drive the story but beside that nothing. The story line is too flat, I expect to have more surprises and or some "bloody" scene or sort of for this kind of genre.
So for those thriller / horror lover, you may still watch this, but do not expect any thrilling moments in it.
Too bad the great acting not supported with the great story line, it can be a very good movie with better story and more thrilling effects as a thriller movie should have.

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Korean Hunger Games which reflect today society

Watch this series due to the hype. Overall it's good to watch, even though for me I already can guess the "bad" guy earlier.
Episode 1 is quite boring with slow pace and the introduction of characters, etc. Afterwards the pace is quite ok.
But actually for this type of genre the suspense is not really there, not something that make you glued to the screen, maybe because it's similar to hunger game, so the surprise elements is not really there. Sometimes it's just too "lucky" and hard to believe, like how easy for a policeman to sneak in, can survive hiding for few days (no foods and drinks?) and the main role always win easily, especially when he licked the sugar candy and during first game when he about to fall.
The good thing about this Korean version is the moral of the story or maybe the background story on why people are easily blinded by money, and the lost of morality in our society which is kinda true... In our current society, people tend to be selfish and don't care of others, will use any means to reach their own goal.
Acting wise, thumbs up to all the actors and actresses !
Overall, this series is still worth watching, but not up to the hype. And be prepare of some bloody scene for those with not so strong heart to see blood

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Disappointing and super boring

Season 1 was great or at least the first half is very well paced and has interesting storyline. Honestly it is better that Xiao Yao remain as a guy the whole story, as her love story is really not important at all and just boring...
Season 2 is totally a different pacing and the story is flat, like changing the director or scriptwriter.
Actor and actress wise, I can't stand to watch Tusan Jing, either this character personality is an "OK" man, everything Xiao Yao said he only can said Ok, Ok, Ok with that dull facial expression or is it his acting so lame? No chemistry at all between this 2 (holding hands does not represent chemistry).
Xiang Liu deserved the love, acting and character wise he is the best male in this series..
And I am wondering why everyone need to fall in love with Xiao Yao? She is not that damn gorgeous nor has the best personality, she is selfish and undecisive. She love every men who love her, she choose Jing at the end is because Jing easy to be manipulated and can be stir by her.
Well I expect and have big hope in the beginning seeing finally there's a series from Yang Zi (love story thing) that is interesting BUT once again it is another boring one.. Not sure it is because of her facial expression or really because of the story line?

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Watchable but won't make you want more

Well, actually the story is good, can be a better series if screenwriter write better and cast better actors/actress with better acting. This series watchable but no essence to make you so eager to keep watching. Some scenes are totally absurd, missing momentum and jumping here and there especially on the final episode. The editing not realistic at all, ocean very fake and the soldiers line up in one episode totally an obvious picture and not real person. Acting wise not much can be said, lack of expressions, emotions, character engagements, so overall poor acting

Ep 19: When Fan Zhuo let himself stabbed to save Bai Shan Shui, if he can make Liang Lian can't move, then why not let Bai Shan Shui kill Liang Lian instead of asking her to run away?? Liang Lian hitting him multiple times and still unable to free himself, is a very good opportunity to kill Liang Lian instead of asking her to run, right? and then when she tried to run away, why so slow motion, just too over dramatic, but totally without logic.

Ep 20: so easy to figure out a spy, and then suddenly have another treasure pills to offer for faster cultivation... LOL then everyone should use pills!

Ep 22: the fighting competition sooooo fast, like all the opponents are very weak. And then when the Xie sister and Nan Gong unconscious due to Sun Xing scheme, Xie sister only got poisoned, while Nan Gong was badly injured, but surprisingly the two conscious at the same time!

Ep 26: Ye Zhe Leng offering life sword, thought it should be something extraordinary, but eventually it's just a flying swords, which can be dodge easily.

Ep 29: Prince Han drunk, but once see his father suddenly the alcohol effect subside? The enemy from Feng Wu very easy go in the Wu Zhou town without being noticed?

Ep 30: Strangely the priestesses was abducted long ago, but Ding Ning Group able to catch up pretty fast..

And finally the ending final episode like rushing to end the show...

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Waiting for season 3

Very well done.
1. Nice story and plot, very well paced and giving a little twist at the end
2. Great acting from all the casts, and I'm now waiting for Jun Ji Hyun appearance on season 3 :)
3. And still the production team maintain the good job!

One downside is that as frequently happen on all move / drama, the main heroes will never die... Facing so many zombies, how can he / they / she escaped un-scratches. Seo Bi in prison, how can she survived. But still overall this is a nice drama to watch, not too long (so that not dragging), good story and good acting.

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Tried my best to go on but failed

I rarely dropped series, so those dropped are really beyond tolerance (My tolerance)
It is really draggy and boring, 6-10 episode will be good.
This is not the first series with a female disguising as a male, so story wise it's not fresh.
The female lead character so annoying, only know to cry and does she forget that nobody know that she is a female? Why keep jealous and angry with the male lead? Park Min Young also not suitable to play as a guy, too small and very obvious that this fella is a female? Unlike coffee prince which is more convincing.
Every guy must fall in love with female lead? including a woman? Duhhhh........
Acting, I always appreciate Yo Ah In acting, and in this series Song Jong Ki acting also not bad. Park Min Young acting is kinda standard, similar with her acting in City Hunter.
I wonder how she's able to survive for so long staying with guys, no need to take shower? always able to take shower alone? when she's sleep, with the wild sleep movement from the 2 room mate, never accidentally touch?
She should be portrayed as smart, but what can I see is a crybaby and not smart, stubborn yes but not smart
So at the end after struggling to continue watching for 3 months, I decided to stop at episode 15.

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Lame!!!

Finally! It took 9 months to finish this series. Almost going to drop it. I had a great hope last year when I start, first is because of Xiao Zhan and the good ratings (back then).
40 episodes is way too much! And the female lead, bad selection to give this role to this actress!
The story line is all over the places, not sure what is the focus of this series? Is it love? Is it the war between Kong San and Melfork? Is it the long waiting time for the sea emperor? Is it about who get the throne? No focus at all!
in the beginning it seems like it is about Shi Ying return to get back the throne, but shift to Zhu Yan the stubborn girl.
I never saw this actress playing Zhu Yan before, so my opinion on her is solely according to her acting in this drama.
1. This Zhu yan character is really stupid and far beyond like. When the Sumo real sea emperor said : I want revenge, can she said that revenge is not good instead of teaching a stupid magic to send a "bird" to his mother??
Then when Sumo suddenly "sick" is this Zhu Yan so unknowledgeable to even don't know anything at all?? she think bring this to a normal doctor will help?
2. The actress acting is really terrible, especially episode 1 to 25. When she act happy, the smile ( the mouth, lips stretch like being forced) very unnatural and doesn't seems like happy at all. And this is happen many may times
When she cried, there's no tears at all. When she "act" with a wah sound her eyes is not "wah" she tried with the fake open happy mouth but it failed terribly.
When she "fight" every time need to spread her 2 hands whenever go down or do some magic action?
She always use a stuntman in every fighting (only rolling the body, not even falling down).
And her face so big, not suitable for the outfit?
This actress suitable for maybe police roles, her dub voice so sweet, but it does not suit her at all.
The actress playing Xue Lu is a better choice for Zhu Yan role.

So many unnecessary misunderstanding. This Zhu Yan isn't she always have big mouth and said what she think and feel??? Why when she heard her master want to leave priesthood she can't just ask him?? She suddenly have a change of character after the 30 episodes of very annoying character that worth a slap.
All the stories will not happen if this Zhu Yan did not do her stupidity since she was a kid until she is grow up.

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Change in Focus

I feel that session 1 characters have more "personalities". Session 2 focusing more on the character personalities changes and not so much into the "politics"
Prosecutor Seo changed from the tactful person in session 1 to cunning, busy body like salesman type in session 2
Hwang Si Mok also changed, he can yell and smile in session 2!

Session 2 pacing is better, faster compare to session 1.

Story & mystery wise, session 1 have heavier topics and give more surprises compare to session 2.
I can say session 2 is lighter and more towards entertainment, session 1 can be a bit boring for some people, but having more content and given an impression of more well prepared compare to session 2.

Still thumbs up for all the actors and actresses acting.

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Great Acting, Great Politics!

Highly recommended series for those looking for great acting and politics scheme. Not as dry as Three kingdom series, there's still "love" story in this series. There's some flaws, especially on the last 10 episode, like rushing to end the series.
When Ning Qi want to take the throne, there's a lot of chance for him to just kill everyone, why everyone just stand there and wait for the opponent to talk and walk? it just doesn't make sense.

I love how all of them having those poker face, especially Ning Yi who can act pitiful while actually he's pretending, it's just hilarious seeing he act dumb and crying while actually he is scheming behind. Their poker face always amaze me

I don't really like Feng Zhi Wei character. This Zhi Wei character, she's just busy body "smart" but not that "smart" lady who just can't make up her mind. If she can just decide to stay with Ning Yi, not giving hope here and there so other guy swaying plus not busy body want to save princess shao ning, want to know why people in the academy so skillfull, etc, all the troubles will not be there. Too emotional for that so call "smart" title. But only blinded by emotion for the mother and people that she barely know, like her brother who just show up. She just can forget all the things Ning Yi has done for her, while actually all the troubles are she bring into herself.
And I wonder why there's so many men want to protect her haha...

Overall the series is good, supported with very good acting from all the actor and actress.

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