Note to Self

I've tried watching this twice. Despite reviewers having listed The Untamed, Guardian, and Winter Begonias as recommendations (all three that were enjoyable), this series really doesn't have the same feel at all to any of them. But I should have known to not trust recommendations when it comes to BL-related series.

There's nothing outrageously terrible about this series. Dropping it for the same reasons why I've dropped many other well-known and relatively highly reviewed ones. The dialogue and interactions between all of the characters are just unnatural and cringe. It's not necessarily an actor or plot issue, but perhaps it's just how some Chinese series are directed or maybe partially due to the dubbing. Similar to the flow of older American soap operas- it's just not believable. And while Guardian also had tinges of this flaw, the two MLs had much more chemistry and the plot moved along more smoothly.

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Not bad, but...

The series has a good structure overall with respect to the cast and plot so far (as far as an episode 3 goes). But the series is titled Maiden Holmes where one would expect a clever and competent FL. But despite the FL being somewhat intriguing by showing off her capabilities right from the start, once the main ML steps into the picture, she melts into helplessness. It was "somewhat intriguing" because there are also inconsistencies with the solution/results to the initial case results, brushing over much needed details and requesting the audience to just accept the brilliance of the FL.

The case inconsistencies can be ignored to a degree but by episode 3, there is already an excessive amount of physical contact scenes between the ML/FL to force feed the beginnings of their romance. Which would also be acceptable if it weren't at the cost of character deterioration as the FL now needs constant rescuing. Additionally, the closeness between the group (i.e. the woman about to be sacrificed) was unrealistically instantaneous. It's a shame because there is a decent amount of chemistry with the actors/actresses.

I would be been pressed to continue watching but after hitting up the reviews and confirming that the FL never ends up redeeming herself, it was a definitive drop for me. Would have give it a lower score but I'm sure this aspect wouldn't bother other viewers as much and the FL character is really my only issue with the series thus far.

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Unreliable review

This is likely an unreliable review as I only managed to get through two episodes. But the two episodes were enough for me personally.

The initial scene was relatively intriguing but the actions of our main made no sense from the get-go. Let's say he slaughtered everyone because he was trying to be completely obedient to what he was asked to do. Yet he makes a scene about his regret, and then manages to leave the organization by doing self harm. If those he assassinated were really that important to him to begin with, couldn't he have just done exactly this to prevent himself from being a part of the murders? He makes another scene about how his self harm is part of his redemption, yet when the pain flares up, he does everything he can to ease the pain. Then the odd transition of wearing some mask to disguise himself so he can just drink his life away and be a bum... is pretty distasteful.

Insert the female who starts a fight with him, after an odd and awkward obsession to communicate with a bum. As if she's a two-year old who has never seen bums before. The fight causes damage to the carts of innocent bystanders, and they just prance off as if they are supposed to be respectable good folks. Insert again, some wealthy kid who also just coincidentally happens to be obsessed with befriending the bum out of nowhere after having met him for two seconds. Only for his family to be slaughtered later and this bum just decides to watch for a while until suddenly trying to step in at the last second to be a savior. Insert yet again, the male companion of the aforementioned female. The fight scene between the two is a dramatized dance rather than an actual fight.

Yea... no matter how good the costuming or background is. There's nothing that can redeem these details in only the first two episodes.

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