Interesting drama with lovely characters

Having watched so many modern dramas, I have to admit that the plot of the Legend of Yunxi seemed somewhat refreshing. It's about poisons and how they not only kill people but also can cure them. It's also about powerplay, palace concubines plotting against each other, an insecure tyrant Emperor, and a Prince who wants to do good for his people and in the process finds that there's more to life than just revenge and duty.

Actually, despite the slightly draggy plot and lack of romance scenes (FL and ML really deserved to get more happy moments, but the ones that are there are very cute), I enjoyed watching the drama. The acting was top-notch - from the Emperor to the elder actresses playing Long Feiye's mother and Emperor's mother - those women just took my breath away with their beauty and grace, and the way they portrayed their characters.

☆Zhang Zhehan☆ was amazing as Long Feiye/Prince Qin, but his character is reserved and not very emotional - so you have to look for those tiny little signs of affection. They do build up and eventually, he starts smiling more and shows his love for FL in different ways. His character is just like that and as you watch the show it's explained nicely. He's incredibly handsome in this role and his acting is intricate (and no, that's not his butt they show in the series, it's a stunt double XD)

☆Ju Jingyi is☆ cute and sweet, I actually liked her acting, - her character is kind, sweet, and bubbly, the kind of a breath of fresh air Long Feiye needed to start feeling alive again. As his mother pointed out, he started looking more like a real man feeling actual feelings when Han Yunxi entered their household. By the way, Yunxi and her mother-in-law - their interactions were too good! Loved them both.

So, relationship-wise, I don't have any complaints, although the two of them do tend to sacrifice a lot for each other instead of talking things through, but that's kind of their style. The other couple, Tang Li and Ningjing are the two cutest bickering devils you'll ever see, I loved watching their relationship develop. Chu Xifeng, Long Feiye's general, is the cdrama's ultimate shipper, helping everyone with their relationships, while Dr. Gu was a kind of relationship counselor, it was very funny. So, there are many loveable characters that I really enjoyed getting to know. Oh, and let's not forget the gorgeous evil Emperor - probably the most handsome emperor I've ever seen in all Cdrama Land XD Like, he's that good. And his love story with a concubine also becomes very touching in the end.

The production is quite beautiful with lovely locations and building designs, as well as the looks of the characters. Even in 2024 this drama still looked good. So, I'd say it's a 7/10 for the plot, and 10/10 for acting. Beautiful OSTs by the way.

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Amazing Actors and Lousy Plotline

Watching this cdrama hurt on so many levels. It started as a very promising fantasy fighting series with a dramatic plot and gorgeous cast. Xu Kai and Gulnazar look quite amazing as a couple, although the girl does seem a bit cold and the chemistry wasn't really hot and sparkly, but they looked good together and the romance was okay. But then the plot just went down the hill so fast that it was hard to keep watching.

☼From smart to stupid in a heartbeat☼

Xukai's character, XueYing, as well as his Shifu and a bunch of other characters, started off as being smart, brave, and resourceful. They played well against the Demon clan, seeing through their schemes. But then, in a matter of a few episodes, everyone seemed to suddenly lose their intellect. The most obvious traitors were overlooked and the Demon clan was always one step ahead of the good guys in a very unnatural manner. It's not that they were super smart, it's just that the Xia clan guys suddenly became super stupid. Not to mention XueYing's brother who ignored the bad girl being super bad despite everything XueYing was saying (indeed, he was the smartest of the bunch, but it didn't help them in the end). Very questionable actions of Shifu (Chi Qiu Bai), who could have avoided the disaster if he only talked to someone about what he was going to do. Like seriously, he didn't have to do any of the weird stuff he did in the name of the greater good.

☼Too many deaths and sacrifices☼

This is a George Martin-level amount of deaths in a series, like Game of Thrones style. But in Snow Eagle Lord many of the deaths were unnecessary and the plot didn't really logically lead to them. But the director was going for a super drama, maybe that's why the plot turned out like this. Sacrifice is one of the main themes in the series, so be prepared to see many of the characters not valuing their lives or effortlessly dying because of a screenwriter's whim. At some point, it started to get annoying even, and I stopped connecting to what was happening on screen because it was kind of rushed and illogical. But I know many people suffered along with the characters and were really sad to see them go.

☼The cast was still amazing☼

The cast did an amazing job - all the main and secondary characters were great, believable, and looked cute in their roles. Seriously, a very nice group of actors who had lovely chemistry between them playing friends, rivals, and love interests. In this regard, I can't say the show is bad because I did enjoy watching many of the episodes and interactions. I have to say that Xu Kai did an outstanding job portraying XueYing - he did a lot of fighting scenes, as well as many other characters, and depicted a very determined and strict young man, who still got a little bit more human with time, falling in love and making some friends. But he was hero material and you could feel that in the portrayal of the character. All the elders were great, as well as Shifu, who didn't get to enjoy a peaceful life with his loved one because of an untimely character death. All the bad guys looked cool and acted well, too. Some of them were too pretty to hate, but believable nonetheless.

☼Conclusion☼

In the end, I can't say this drama is a complete waste of time, but it's not so good either, in many aspects. It's hardly worth re-watching, but if you're a fan of Xu Kai or any other actor from the series, you should probably give it a try. I enjoyed all the fighting scenes very much, as well as the special effects and training sequences in the series. It was interesting to watch.

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One of the best cdramas ever

I was avoiding Arsenal Military Academy for a long time because the theme really doesn't speak to me, but decided to give it a try due to high ratings and XuKai playing one of the leading roles. And boy, I'm so glad I did! It's really one of the best series in terms of plot, production, and well-written characters that make the series so good. It's really all about people, relationships, emotions, and complicated choices they have to make due to their own reasons, beliefs, or life situations.

○Amazing acting○

First, I have to say that acting is truly superb in the series, From the slightly tired and discouraged army veterans and teachers in the academy (who still do their job out of duty) to passionate youths, who are all about taking action, even if it means sacrificing themselves for the greater good. I'm not a fan of this type of patriotism as I believe all life is precious and one shouldn't just throw it away, but in this world, there is a place for everything, and the series made everything very believable, and everyone's reasoning worked too well. You start really feeling what each character is all about, so their actions just made sense.

○Loveable characters○

☼ XuKai's Gu Yanzheng goes from a troublesome teen to an equally troublesome military student, but we see his growth and passion, and how manly he becomes, without ever losing his identity. His playful and mischievous side is always amazing to watch, and the way he expresses his love for Xie Liancheng is both funny and heart-warming. He's not afraid to be himself no matter what he does, even when acting like a kid.

☼ Xie Liangchen, portrayed by BaiLu, is figuring out what really matters in life after her brother's death and even goes so far as to take his identity, trying to understand him better (and as a result, to understand herself). I don't think living someone else's life is a good idea, but while doing so, one can discover a lot about themselves - and that was the path she chose. She became stronger and turned into a great fighter just because she wanted to - so she could help others and protect her friends. She's definitely not the usual girly type of girl, I guess that's why she and Gu Yanzheng clicked so well together.

☼Shen Junshan stole the spotlight many times and their love triangle with Xie Liangchen and Gu Yanzheng was really believable as all the male leads were great at portraying complex emotions. Xie Liancheng really needed to get to know herself better to understand what she wanted and whom she liked. Shen Junshan is a more reserved type, but very manly, gentle, and protective. I just feel he was more of a traditional guy and Xie Liancheng was definitely not a traditional girl, according to the choices she made in life, that's why she was drawn more to Gu Yanzheng (well, and there's also love that works in mysterious ways:)

☼I also adore Qu Manting - she's brave, open, and free to do whatever she wants no matter what other people think. For a woman back in the day I can't imagine that was easy, especially without the support of the family. In many aspects, she acted like a spoilt child and demanded love and attention from other people, but she was also fearless and I could see that she and Gu Yanzheng really had a lot in common and could become a power-couple if it was real life and not a scripted performance. They both were always open about their feelings for each other and other people, they said what was on their minds and acted passionately on a whim, which sometimes led to dreadful consequences. People like that aren't afraid to live (or to die) and they do everything to the maximum of their capabilities. That's why their love is also fiery, passionate, and grand. Qu Manting wasn't afraid to make grand gestures for Gu Yanzheng (her saving him from the wedding was a total blast, it was really one of the best episodes ever with their fake relationship, although her love was quite genuine), just like Gu Yanzheng wasn't afraid to do grand gestures for Xie Liancheng (him playing the piano in the candlelight right inside the military academy was just beyond stunning, attention-seeking, but also genuine). I also feel that Qu Manting was avoiding Shen TingBai for a long time because he could actually make her happy, but in a different way, with fewer fireworks and fiery emotions. For some reason she was avoiding him, going for Gu Yanzheng who was obviously in love with someone else. In the end, though, I guess she realized that love can be different as there are different kinds of relationships (that don't always have to explode in your face all the time).

☼The story of Huo Xiaoyu, who is far more than just a bartender owner, and Guo Shuting, was tragic and amazing in many aspects. I don't want to spoil it, but so many characters in the story are inter-connected and their past and present, all is written beautifully in the plot.

Anyway, all these love triangles made for a very captivating watch with lots of truly funny moments. Given the theme of the series, I was surprised at just how many cute and fluffy scenes this drama has, especially with the theme of cross-dressing. Naturally, Gu Yanzheng was openly acting like a man fully in love, not caring that his love interest looked like a guy to everyone else. This is one of the most endearing aspects of his character, and also the reason for a handful of hilarious scenes. It's a pity the director had to cut lots of romantic moments, but even without the kissing scenes, all the romances in the series are beyond enjoyable (but do watch a few cut scenes on YouTube, they are too precious).

○The atmosphere○

All the costumes, osts, and scene decorations deserve an honorable mention, too. The production was amazing and very life-like, and I especially loved everyone's styles. Gu Yanzheng was like a cool military-esque male model dressing in style every time. He was really something else, also because he came from the upper class and could probably spend more money on stylish outfits. Qu Manting's dresses were attention-grabbing and worthy of a star singer. You could always tell by her outfits she wasn't just an ordinary woman - she had a presence and wanted to grab attention with her looks as well. Huo Xiaoyu exuded charm and elegance whenever she was dressing up - she just had a special aura about her, and the designers made her look even more stunning.

○Conclusion○

This drama is just too good in many aspects. I recommend watching it even if you're not a fan of the military genre - it is so much more than that. With brilliant acting, stunning scenes, lots of love and drama, this is definitely one of the best series about human relationships and life in general.

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A lot of good characters (and plot holes)

I'd say this drama is a solid 7, but the cast was acting so well that I have to put a higher score. Anyway, whenever I watch behind the scenes of these series and see how much time and effort goes into each episode, it becomes even more precious. That being said, the plot is lacking in many aspects and the ending flopped so hard that it was just disappointing to watch.

○Male characters○

I have to say that most of the characters are amazing. XuKai played Ding Yunqi, a very reserved and witty young man, good both in martial arts and strategy. For some episodes, his rival was Luo Yunsong, an equally smart police guy bound to catch whoever killed his family to take revenge. Whenever these two characters interacted it was a feast for the eyes and the brain. Their respectful brotherly relationship is one of the things that saved the series for me. They went from rivals to good friends/brothers and it was a very natural development - I was rooting for them, unlike for the female lead:)) Sun Sanxuan, a sect leader and Yunqi's friend, was also amazing. HeBiao, who worked for LuoYunsong, often stole the scene due to good looks and great character - his devotion was pure and beautiful in many ways. SanJin, the cook and Yunqi's helper, was cute and always brought some light and fun to the scenes.

○Female characters○

It was a pity to see close to no chemistry between Yunqi and Wu Shuang. Even for a childhood crush, their relationship didn't have enough backstory for me. As they met, the girl immediately started talking about getting married as that was the only way she could leave the sect and lead a normal life. I was like, okay girl, good for you, but he has no obligation to save you. True, a sect like that would be almost impossible to quit, especially given her upbringing and that she was the favorite student of Shifu, but that marriage demand set a bad tone for me right from the beginning and wasn't cute at all. Her character was also acting stupid a lot of times and she wasn't the cutesy type that could be forgiven for acting childish and irresponsible - usually, it was just frustrating. The same goes for the second female lead Chu Fengling. She went from a respectful, smart, and educated young lady to a power-hungry monster in a matter of a few episodes and it was a pity to watch. She was the most irritating character and I wish they had written her differently because the actress, who played her, did a great job. Cui Yanzhi, one of the sect leaders, was one of the few adequate female characters in the series - she was cunning, but devoted and always thought about the bigger picture, just like Yunqi and Luo Yunsong.

○Plot○

All in all, the plot wasn't bad and I loved the adventurous feel of it. Visually it was very pleasing and all the riddles they had to solve were pretty cool - they could have added more and made it more of a tomb-rider-style quest, but I was still content with the overall atmosphere. The cringe-worthy brother of Luo Yunsong didn't do much for me - he was a bit of a comedic relief, but his love for the FL and the whole story just seemed unnecessary to the plot. Although, I have to admit the actor did a great job portraying him. The Shifu was also a great character, as were all male and female supporting roles. The plot was just lacking consistency, and the romantic relationship of the main couple seemed a bit forced to me (but I still enjoyed it, mostly due to XuKai's impeccable acting). The bad guys of the series were quite decent, I won't give any spoilers, but it worked.

So, don't expect much from the series and you won't be disappointed, Definitely watch it if you're a fan of XuKai, but even if you're not, the plot and other great characters are worth it to at least give this cdrama a try. I don't regret watching it, but I used fast-forward quite a lot:)

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I loved it against all odds

Seriously, this is one of the most complex plots I've seen in cdramas, but surprisingly it didn't turn me off - the mystery was unraveling slowly but steadily, and while sometimes (most of the times) I had no idea what was happening and why most of the characters did what they did, it was still a captivating watch.

I have to mention the stellar cast first - if not for the actors, the drama wouldn't have been so captivating. XuKai gave his very best performance playing not one, but two characters. He and Esther have a lovely chemistry that is sweet and innocent, like teenage love, which I found beyond cute and amazing to watch. Wan Peng was great playing Luo Zhaoyan, her brother was equally great, and deliciously evil and bad (although very caring, and yes, that's a thing). Luo Zhaoyan and Xian Qing (the demon-wolf) had amazing chemistry and a kind of more mature romance unfolding, which I'd love to see more of, but after all, the series is more about fighting and solving the mysteries than anything else. All the supporting characters and their stories were also great to watch.

Maybe the plot is more coherent for people who actually played the game, but for me, as a viewer, it was a bit too much of unfamiliar lore that was laid out in bits and pieces and we just had to roll with it, taking things as they were. In the end, everything kind of made sense (at least, all the mysteries were explained). Still, some characters had very questionable ethics, doing lesser evil for the sake of the greater good, which has never turned out good, like ever. I'm sure there could be less messy ways to do things and save all the realms. Still, it all made sense, I just wish there were fewer character deaths, they were really heartbreaking to watch.

But I do recommend this drama to everyone who is thinking about whether to watch it or not - there are too many good scenes and plotlines in it. If you don't mind being in the dark for most of the series, wondering what on earth is going on there and why the main lead has a twin, then you're all good. The OST is lovely, all the music is great, the acting is superb, and the couples are super cute. There are quite a lot of funny moments at the beginning of the drama, but then things get dramatic pretty fast. I cried a few times, so be prepared for that, too.

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Fun, Easy-Going, and Purely Entertaining

I started watching this drama with zero expectations as I'm not really a game fan, but the series turned out to be great with fluffy and cute romance, realistic plot, well-written dialogues. and interesting relationships between all the characters. The staff is stellar - I don't think I've seen so many attractive actors in one cdrama, and everyone plays great.

?♡?Romance?♡?
This is one of the fluffiest romance stories I've seen, but it's a slow-burner, so don't expect too much spiciness in the beginning, although, Lu Sicheng and Tong Yao do get in a variety of embarrassing situations that bring them closer together - so it's always entertaining to watch. I found myself giggling all the time, especially when their teammates witnessed something improper and were getting suspicious about the couple (poor Fatty was always witnessing something spicy and couldn't deal with it, it was too funny). Also, Lu Sicheng's character changes greatly as he falls in love - all his guards go down as he opens up to ML and then turns into the clingiest and sweetest boyfriend you'll ever see (but in a very endearing way). He really is 'Prince Charming' of e-sports, and proves to be a real gentleman (also, very hungry for kisses and touchy-touching). Xu Kai's performance is great here, I also think Cheng Xia fits the role perfectly. You will definitely love the amount of kissing this cdrama has, it does not disappoint in this regard.

?♡?Plot?♡?
I didn't know anything about e-sports, so I was learning along the way, watching the series just for entertainment. The producers did a really good job with animated pieces that look very cool and action-packed. Sometimes it was hard to follow who plays which character in the game, but it was exciting nonetheless. The cdrama focuses on the ups and downs of being an e-sports idol, having to deal with fans, rumors, and almost no personal life at all. And if you do get to have one, it will soon become a public matter discussed by everyone on the Internet. There are many issues discussed in the cdrama, so it has lots of quite serious undertones, which I personally loved. So it's not just another shallow romcom, this one has some pretty deep messages to convey.

?♡?Characters?♡?
I literally loved all of them - maybe they were written in a bit too perfect way, even the ex-boyfriend of FL is too sweet to be true, but I like to think that people like this exist and we all are human enough to be kind to each other even after the relationship is over. ML's character is very mature and he takes responsibility for almost everything as a leader (which does become a burden that is too heavy for only one man to carry, that issue is also discussed in the series). ML's best friend Jinyang is one of the coolest female characters ever - she's supportive, but always speaks the truth. She's straightforward and has a very strong character, it's impossible not to love her. I have to say all the characters were very interesting and the actors fully delivered while playing them.

?♡?Conclusion?♡?
It's a 10/10 for me, this cdrama just hit all the right spots with the great staff, amazing characters, engaging plot, and yummy romance. Definitely recommend!

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Hilarious Jokes and Cute Cast (with a slight BL touch)

I started watching this cdrama with the lowest expectations ever (after Snow Eagle Lord I decided not to expect much from the plot). And boy, was I surprised! It was like watching anime - so light-hearted, funny, and with jokes that are sometimes so saucy that I was surprised they actually let it air like that (all those instances when the characters joked about 'paying with the body' were just too hilarious). Not to mention the low-key boys' love theme that was added just for the fun of it (but it was sooo delightful nonetheless.

☼Characters☼

All of them were seriously gorgeous, cute, and funny. From the main leads to the supporting cast, everyone did their best.
- Wang Lu - a daring, over-confident, and smart young man with rare magic abilities that have been lost for ages, so no one can really teach him anything, apart from one Shifu, who's not afraid of a little challenge. Xu Kai portrayed a deliciously saucy character who's both charming and sharp-tongued. All of his facial expressions are just too funny.
- Wang Wu - Wang Lu's teacher. A lady with close to no principles and moral code. She acts as if she doesn't care (or cares only about money), but most of that is just a mask. Still, all her interactions with other characters (especially men) are hilarious - she would say whatever's on her mind and would sell anything to anyone to get what she wants. She's definitely one of the good guys, but she's not loved by anyone - apart from Wan Lu, who becomes her apprentice. The pair matches incredibly well in terms of character and humor. I actually loved Sandrine Pinna in this role, I think it suits her incredibly well. Wang Wu and Wan Lu aren't a conventional couple and their relationship develops differently compared to traditional love stories.
- Hai Yunfan - Wang Lu's bestie from another clan, who ran away when his family was killed, supposedly by his own brother. He's charming, calm, and not too powerful in terms of strength, but he is always there to help the main lead while trying to get stronger to avenge his family.
- Liu Lixian - has the mind of a 6-year-old and can only think about food. She loves hanging out with friends and fighting. She's strong and has a few secrets of her own as to her second identity.

I wouldn't want to write about other characters not to spoil the plot, which is pretty cool in my opinion. It's more cohesive and logical than many of cdramas I've watched. Given that it's a comedy, things don't really have to make much sense, but in the end, they kind of did still, so for me, there were no loose ends, it was just a fun and a little bit messy fighting/fantasy plotline with good guys, bad guys, a few intrigues, backstabbing, and character growth. I enjoyed it greatly! And laughed too much, seriously, the jokes were too good the way the cast portrayed all of them:)

☼Romance☼

For almost 30 episodes the only romance you'll get is between the two main male leads XD Which may seem like a dream come true, but really isn't. The series uses BL trope extensively, playing off all the cliche scenes you could think of - so there are some touching scenes, standing-in-the-rain scenes, and even an episode when they took a bath together. I had so much fun watching this, it was unbearable))) It was clearly not an actual BL plot, but it used all the yummy elements to cater to the audience. Still, Wang Lu and Hai Yunfan had a very endearing friendship and brotherhood, and with all the blow-the-belt jokes of Wang Lu throughout the series, he could at least turn out to be bi (it wouldn't really be surprising). The teacher-apprentice couple starts to recognize each other in the second half of the series closer to the end and it seemed quite organic to me as they've spent so much time together, taking care of each other, and really helped each other through some tough times.

☼Final Thoughts☼
In the end, I fell in love with the series. It's definitely rewatch-worthy because of all the humor and funny scenes. The acting is great in this one, Xu Kai and Sandrine Pinna have amazing comedic chemistry both on and off set. The whole cast did a great job and all of the character's stories are kind of cool. Don't expect much and just have fun watching!

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