Like you, you already must have an idea how this story will end. But that didn’t really faze me from watching this show. I do like this type of stories, ticked all the boxes for me. We got an anti-hero, revenge, war, long-haired guys with braids and other what-have-yous. Looks splendid! The first couple of episodes were enough to keep me interested. So here we are.

I am watching the Director’s Cut, but based from what everyone said, no difference plot-wise, just additional background information in the beginning.

So. The story. The first arc was good then it got pretty messy. My enjoyment of this show pretty much nosedived from the moment Xiaofeng and Li Chengyin plunged into the River of Oblivion. I myself wished I forgotten the first arc of this show.

The second arc wasn’t too bad. Enjoyment didn’t completely flatlined. I liked the fall of the second Crown Prince and political warfare. I liked the “rediscovering” of XF and LCY. However, in this arc Li Chengyin basically acquired a girlfriend out of nowhere. For alliance purposes? Personally, this angle is completely unnecessary and could have been executed differently.

Anyhow, I am now on the third arc of the show, and I just literally loathe Sese and dreading the noble idiocy that will happen sooner or later. I think this going to get more ridiculous. The fast forward button is already burning!

This show had so much potential. It had all the elements to be awesome… I wanted it to be awesome. But I find myself so disgruntled hence I ask why am I torturing myself and still watching this? I guess I wanted to see for myself how it ends… or I am just a masochist.

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Update - 42/55

The struggle is real. I am still persisting and progressed until episode 42 and still no joy. I got 13 episodes left and I am feeling a bit cheated (well, I already knew this but...), I honestly don't think this is going to get any better.

My main gripe amongst all my gripe is the absolute lack of character development for XF. I understand that she is young here, but where is the growth? She just remained this clueless, naïve character that developed no perception at all. I mean, I thought she can't be that dumb all throughout this show, but she is THAT dumb and dense. Same can be said with LCY.

All XF and LCY did in the third arc is fight. There is no balance at all. We get a bit of tenderness here and there from LCY but not enough to balance it out. There is no banter, the longing is not conveyed effectively, there are no feels! Their relationship did not go anywhere. They are supposed to be star-crossed lovers! I suppose the writers are to blame for this. This third arc could have been the best in this show, only if it was cleverly written. What a shame.

So... I will continue this arduous task and finish this show like a stupid lover hanging on to an abusive relationship hoping it will get better . I will have another update on this review when its done.

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Update: 55/55

I’ve done it. But I skimmed a lot of episodes, from that time when Gu Jian abducted Xiaofeng and all went from stupid to stupider. This is by far, the longest chinese drama I have watched. And by far the longest review I have written.

I must say, I am in love with this show but it doesn’t mean I liked everything about it. The ending was so sad but it was grand. The third and final arc was about this starcrossed lovers but just wished that it was written and executed better. The anger and pain is too much, it just got to the point.. what is even the point of all of this? It indeed had a lot of potential. We need a remake!