a painful watch

Came here after seeing some recommendations about this on Chinese Youtube. And where to begin... I have so many thoughts and it's just so difficult to put them into proper words...

All in all, an amazing drama with an amazing story that brings out such raw emotions. Each of our main characters have incredibly fleshed out lives, and almost complete character arcs (I say this because I'm looking forward to a second season with recurring characters). They're relatable and human like the rest of us are, and I really appreciate how much show has brought to light some issues that are not always talked about. Social commentary done in this drama was also very well interwoven into our character's lives, and I especially loved how show never failed to steal a jab at widespread corruption issues here and there. I also loved how each scene was a build-up to the big issue. A mere 10 episodes, but each felt so compact and so complete.

My favourite aspect about this drama would be how each character is written. From our main characters to our supporting characters, almost each and every one showed character growth. It really is nice to see change for the better in some characters that I initially disliked. It might seem slightly idealistic, but I'm willing to believe in good.

This isn't one I'd be willing to rewatch often, simply because of how emotionally draining and grounded to reality it is, but it's definitely one I'd recommend. It's a really well-made story with great acting across the board (regardless of how small their role is), and I can't wait for Season 2!

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a really lighthearted watch for those of you who want a break from heavier dramas

TBH I had really low expectations going into this, especially after watching the trailer, but EP 3!! Ep 3 sold it for me.

I liked how funny and lovable the characters were, and even if they were decade-old cliches, they were still bearable. Plot-wise, there was nothing too complex or outstanding to be worked with, but I think the cast chemistry really brought everything together. I LOVED how our main couple had their share of adversities to face, and also chances to prove their comradeship. And I also liked how their romance wasn't forcefully in-your-face, it felt very natural and sweet. They had a healthy relationship, and I am SOOOO glad that they had utmost faith and trust in each other. I didn't quite like the conflict in Ep21, I didn't quite understand Tian's decisions and reactions and the whole buildup of the conflict in that ep. Glad it was resolved super fast though. Also, I really liked the pace of the drama. I don't have much patience watching dramas, but the plot moved forward pretty quickly, so kudos to the director for that.

Acting
I am very very familiar with Chen Yao's work, Darren Chen's not so. And although its a pleasant change seeing CY take on more humorous roles, I didn't think this was her best, especially after watching her performances in the WuXin series. Still, Sang Tian is sooooo cute and enjoyable to watch. As for Darren, I really didn't get his appeal prior to Wen Bing, and I wasn't really sure if they'd make a good match. But colour me surprised! He fit Wen Bing to a tee. And it's quite fun to see how different he is as Wen Bing and as himself in the BTS.

Music
10/10 The whole soundtrack is amazing. My favs might be Crazy for You and 温柔的盔甲. The lyrics for the slow ballad at the end of Ep 1 >>>>>>> I cannot stress enough how happy I am that the soundtrack compliments the drama. There are so many examples of songs being completely out of place in a scene and I'm so glad this show doesn't fall victim to that.

Overall, this drama is perfect if you want a lighthearted romcom without much angst and if you don't mind some suspension of belief.

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Nostalgic watch for fans of the series

Ugh so many things to say about this drama and I've been putting off this review for far too long.

First off, I'm a fan of the first season, so it's sad to see how the sequels haven't done as well as the first one did. It just lacks something no matter what it tries to do. One thing we see obvious improvement in though, is the CGI. The production value also seems to be a lot better than it was before. So yay to advancements in tech!

Onto the plot... where to begin? I think the biggest issue is it's poor control of the pace? Too little things seem to be happening in one episode and the plot isn't engaging enough to keep me invested in the story, and the abysmal placement of music certainly makes this problem a lot more evident than it should be. (More on this later) I also don't quite understand the actions and thoughts of the characters? There are some reactions I find puzzling coming from certain characters even when a big event has happened, like, that shouldn't be the reaction of a normal person? Also, the demon hunting aspect of it seemed not as exciting as before and feels very subdued and watered down.

And what's with the night time dark filter that makes everything sooo much harder to see? It removes so much clarity and it became such an unpleasant watching experience.

Characters/Cast
Oh how I miss the original cast, things just feel so empty now. The relationship between each character and their chemistry was what took season one to the next level, and sadly, none of that cast chemistry is left. Realistically speaking, it's ridiculous to expect characters that have moved on to appear in this season, but what a dream it would be to see the orignal cast again.

Wu Xin this season is wayyyy better than the Wu Xin we saw in S2. This season, he's humourous, caring, decisive, smart... basically everything S2 WX isn't lol. Han Dongjun is charming as per usual and I like how he changes his portrayal of WX each season according to WX's "age" at the time the dramas are set. And how does he look the same he did 5 years ago?? Its the complete opposite for Chen Yao lol, she changes so much every season I swear it's so hard keeping up with her. I thought she did pretty well in giving the twins distinct personalities, by the end I could tell who was who just by the slightest change in expression, but I also thought the connection with Yue QiLuo and the twins was done a bit forcefully. As for their chemistry, I don't think it's the best, especially not when I keep comparing them to their S1 pairings hahahha, but I buy their romance so that's good. And Ding Qiao's Bai Liuli was surprisingly fitting! Mike's portrayal of Bai Liuli served more as comic relief with his animated expressions, but S3's Bai Liuli was a lot darker and I liked it a lot too!

Music
Undoubtedly the worst aspect of this show. The standalone songs are really nice to listen to, but the BGM placement was a mess! At times when the scene was supposed to be lighthearted and humourous, sombre music would play. When the scene has a solemn and dark atmosphere, the bgm would be upbeat and playful. Just why? It just stuck out like a sore thumb. The drama lost so much of its appeal because of this and it's such a major problem that is easy to spot. What a pity.

All in all, you might want to check this out if you like historical dramas and have an attachment to S1's characters. The plot moves slowly, so please be patient while watching this. The actors also do their characters justice so that made it more enjoyable to watch.

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