I’ve never anticipated this drama would lead me to a new fandom (I’m pointing to Gong Jun, he just appeared and entered my life because of this). Otherwise, how could I bear to finish it not in three days but one month. I literally can’t endure the feeling of ending it for I will be nostalgic and will be thinking forever of the characters especially those who have moved my heart. However, there is always a thing that needs conclusion, which would remind an ending for the sake of completion, or whatever goal one wishes to achieve. Thanks I was able to overcome the emotion ruling over this thoughts for if not, I guess I will be taking months or forever to finish this drama.

While writing this, I am listening to “Ask Heaven” which was sung by Liu Yuning and one of the drama’s official sound track. The emotions exist and I feel it guides me with these words of melodrama. Firstly, I would like to talk about the part of the drama that “somewhat” has confused me. After that I will be elaborating the particular aspects which are very surprising to someone with limited knowledge like me. The characters are fairly well-written but my dilemma on the initial parts suddenly appears but luckily it fades knowing I will abandon that kind of state through the next episodes. I’m referring to the presentation of characters. There are a lot of characters and they were mostly introduced on those first episodes giving me a hard time remembering them or it just my memory. I have watched dramas which also involved sects and the martial arts universe but I never get the “puzzled feeling” towards the characters, their names, roles, and the sect they belong. However, this did not affect the overall impact of the drama rather it makes it more notable since each single character in the story plays a significant role on the process of the plot.

The things I value within the drama vary and it does not focus on small elements which most of the professional people engage in an entertainment commentaries would mention. I am a person who sees the big picture instead of the small one, so I will be only mentioning the qualities of Word of Honor that have startled my little experience such as the plot itself, the production, and the entangled actors/actresses.

The plot is quite distinctive. It gives us with the pre-halloween vibes with the ghosts theme mix with the martial arts world affairs. In Chinese ancient times and literature, the stories about phantoms or any magical creature or persona are widely recognized and I’m so glad this concept was applied in the novel and one of the interesting factors of the play. Since it is intertwined with the spooks, I can tell you it is not scary. As a replacement, you will fall in love with their chief who is Wen Kexing (insert the way he speak his name). The whole play is a source of moral lessons as to decide based on your principles. As every episode develops, you will find yourself attached to the story therefore at the very beginning you must stick yourself and never drop it.

The production team is creative and knowledgeable enough to pursue this genre even though it receives many prevailing restrictions. When one looks on its quality, it does not only excel on the visual part, but also on the script (I love how the scriptwriter exerted a lot of effort in order to make the play less straightforward, because if it is, it would lead to some peak of the limitations which is unacceptable to others). Hence, it hides the real meaning and gives us the message which is more meaningful and sometimes can be hilariously clever. I remember a specific scene wherein A’xu told Wen Ke Xing that those with thin lips are not loyal and ungrateful (like where did that sort of perspective came from, it is so sharp but cute). I cried a lot of laughs for that, but I know this is not the only scene out of many that illustrates the surface personality of the two leads. And if you are a kind of a whimsical person, this play may suit your taste with many ancient poems present in their dialogues. I feel like sinking on its beautiful and deep connotations. Moreover, the costumes are made brilliantly. Everything in the drama has its own concealed symbolism and even on clothes, it can be perceived. Although, it is a low-budget adaptation not just like those high scales dramas, it proves that quality stands over quantity. It is well-planned and each individual under the crew has carefully obliged to their job resulting to this masterpiece.

Most actors in this drama are not very popular for it is also a not so high-budgeted creation, then who would recruit a famous and expensive actor, right? Still, thanks because it offered them the chance to prove their self (but it is really a sad reality that some people just can’t accept one’s success and instead ruin their hard earned reputation). I have watched a couple of Zhang Zhehan’s work and it is no doubt that he is such a hardworking man. Therefore, I have a good impression on him. This play is the top among of his works showing a side of him which is reserved but there is a good-tempered and humorous soul covered on the other half of his portrayal. The person that no one anticipated to be so well and to be so super fit for the role is Gong Jun. The director or the production team never made a mistake in picking him as one of the main lead. The seducing personality he gives into a bad-ass valley chief means his flexibility as an actor. Honestly, I don’t really support him before the Word of Honor thinking he is one of those ordinary actors and I was wrong, I am exceedingly incorrect for that idea. Zhou Ye on the other hand transforms into a jovial and loyal character which is truly contradictory from the Better Days. Ma Wenyuan’s shy temperament in the drama makes it more adorable to ship him together with Ye’s role. The other supporting characters also have their stories to tell causing the play to flow in different ways and also conveying us multifarious wisdoms.

For me, it is more than just a BL drama as what its label categorizes. You can feel the love that is worth of life and death sacrifices, the loyalty that is beyond comparison and the friendship that lasts eternally. Even the villains would touch your empathy and at the same time can create a conclusion into your mind that all the bad things you do will not end up in good. The filial piety is also being highlighted. Overall, it is a worthy drama for your time and expenses. At the end, you will realize what does its title, which is “Word of Honor” implies.