Cdramaland has been pretty lacking lately, but this drama was my tipping point. It just slapped me in the face with how cdramaland consistently sacrifices actors who can actually act for actors who suck at acting but have money and/or connections. In Kdramaland and elsewhere, actors are expected to be able to actually act - at a minimum. Shocker, I know.

The first two episodes gave me hope like there was never before. A director who knows what they're doing, a promising and interesting storyline, and two leads (ZHHZ and LXY) who have the best genuine chemistry that I've seen in a long time from dramaland. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen. This is chemistry that no amount of money or back door connections can buy. Also, both ZHHZ and LXY are legit great actors.

Then, comes JJY. With her makeup that doesn't change across any drama or character or situation that she plays. With her acting that doesn't change across any drama or character that she plays. With those two wispy hairs on either side of her face that are completely inappropriate for the period and antithetical to the character she's playing but that doesn't change across any drama or character that she plays. I mean, talk about vanity and playing (at least at the beginning of this drama) a villainess who is obsessed with her looks. On the nose much?

Yet what took the cake for me and made it unbearable to watch any further is JJY's uncanny valley face. Felt like I was watching a period drama then, every so often, a Chinese makeup influencer with a permanent face filter would pop up, seemingly time-traveled from the modern age to talk with these ancient people.

If there are any astute producers out there, I'd be booking ZHHZ and LXY right now for a future drama. I mourn the drama that this could've been. And I mourn the state of cdramaland.