Don't read the novel before watching :)

This show was the general trope of rebirth with a second chance.
The nice part was that both leads returned, so the growth as a couple was worthy to watch.
Personally, i would have rated this show in two parts:
1-30 epis or so- 9.5
and 30+ epis - 8.0

Haven't read the novel, but many times many things were confusing and one actually needed people who read the novel to come and explain. Worst was LR's slight penchant for SRQ was different in novel and in the show. Personally, though i believe LR loved PWX, still her feelings for SRQ was confusing till the end of the show. and no please dont come and tell me to read the novel to justify LR's feelings. The show should have been a separate entity on itself, we cannot rely on the novel to makeup for the mistakes done here.

SRQ as a character was confusing. He loved LR and yet he did not do anything, he was completely blind in his revenge. from start till end, that was all he cared about. Prevent LC to become the emperor. he was uni-dimensional and didnt have any arc as such.

PWX was supposed to do great things and he did too, but we never got much scenes about how he did anything. He was just a lovesick puppy (cute one though, and i loved all his scenes too) for LR. his love for LR was unconditional in the rebirth track. He's definitely one of my favorite male characters.

About LR, what to say. She never introspected about anything unless and except when PWX actually was angry or hurt and rebuffed her acts. One felt that she loved him only because his love was pure and he was always there for her. But internally and subconsciously, her heart looked for SRQ. at least i felt this many times. Dont our parents always say "to stay with the one who loves us most than with the one we love". got same feeling here, she loved him yes, but because of many reasons.

Storywise- the political plots could have been better given and made more exciting.

Rewatch value- only watch till Concubine Rou is exposed. Afterwards, it's a bit messy.

Giving 9/10 only for the leads. Both did their best, so for their hardwork, i wont penalise them due to the liberties taken by PH which made one confuse LR's feelings for PWX.

Leggi di Più

The show is worth a try.

I normally rate a show based on how much i was entertained by it. thus yes i do end up overlooking some flaws.

during the whole 36 episodes, you got the feeling that direction was different, editing was done by different groups and so many things which sometimes made so many episodes have a unique feeling. Epi1-15 had a feeling and flow, then in between another feeling, and post 30 there is another essence in the show. i will definitely recommend this show. It has another flavor as compared to many shows i watched.
Good points; all the actors were good, be it the main ones or secondary ones. ML doesnt turn 100% evil, FL 99.9% never distrusted the ML... I think music was something i liked the most in this show, and the ML's clothes especially when he was in demonic state were so pretty,.

Bad:
not sure to write it as bad or not, but i read about all the production issues this show faced. hence there was many scenes which were badly edited, a few important scenes never given at all (you'd understand if you watch the show :))

rewatch value: yes at least a few scenes are so beautifully done.

Watch this show for the actors, they did a brilliant job but unfortunately other issues impacted in general the outcome which was brought to us. But overall a good watch.

also after watching the show completely, i got the feeling that they wanted to deliver something really good here. because some scenes were indeed topnotch, but unfortunately could not.

Leggi di Più

A masterpiece to watch.

First and foremost, would like to rate the clothes of everyone in this show a 10/10. So pretty and all characters were so beautifully styled, especially Zhiyu.

Generally, i never watch any show which does not have a HE. That's why took me so long to watch this one.
Got to say i'm impressed by all characters here.
My personal favorite must be Zi Shang, first time watched her and she made me laugh so much... hehe.. such a cutie she was throughout the show.

Read many comments where people dissed the main couple. But for me both couples were so beautiful and had their positive and negatives. where Zhiyu and Weishan's relationship was sweet and pure, Shangguan Qian and ShangJue's was explosive because both were playing with each other for their own reasons.

Spoilers (a bit)....
Personally though i enjoyed Shangguan Qian and ShangJue's love story (kudos to the actors here), however when she actually betrayed him totally by telling the Wufeng assassins his supposed weakness so that they can kill him, and we didn't even see her trying to even save him at all or a microsecond of worry! She cared only about her mission, and though she stood as a powerful FL, she completely lost me in wanting them to even be together. Infact, ShangJue may never trust her ever and that's why their relationship would never work.
On the other side, we have Zhiyu and Weishan who stood for each till the end. Weishan never wanted to be an assassin, she was apparently kidnapped as a kid and forced into this life. so once she knew her sister was not killed by the Gong Family and she was gradually won by Zhiyu's love and goodness, she never hesitated even one second. Likewise, Zhiyu's love for her was unconditional.
also read about many hating ZLH or Zhiyu's character, but why? in fact, his character is the only character which actually had any growth or a character arc in this show. I loved his pure character a lot. (and personally in 2023, one Xie Wei was enough, i doubt we can take so many grey characters of ZLH in same year :P.)

This show needs a second season, because what the hell was that ending? what exactly did Zhiyu see when that door opened? Did Dianzhu kill Weishan?

Also if a second season comes, i guess Wufeng need not be the main villain since Zhiyu has paralysed her a lot with the information he let out. Also Wufeng apparently formed part of the Gong Family too, so we need to know that part too.
I want the backstory about the infinite heat and those "infidels" who the three houses are trying to hold in that back hill. That will be a good plot. Actually, also read that all actors are popular now and would not return. and why not? If popular actors can return for LYF2 or even that Strange Tales of Dynasty something, why not here? This show was one of the most successful shows of IQIYI last year. Just the story needs to be good to attract so many actors back. Most characters were important here, even if story revolved around Zhiyu and Weishan.

Rewatch value: definitely

Cons: it does drag a bit at times, actually a lot of times but still it's a superb show with such good actors.

Leggi di Più