*Please read my update below*
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Maybe this series just wasn't my "cup of tea," so-to-speak. Maybe I was simply unable to bridge some kind of (pop?)cultural/mindset gap? Given the overall, very high rating, I think that I missed something really important (No, not a soul...Geez!).

Besides the intangibles, I just couldn't seem to give a hoot about two main characters: Di Li Re Ba (Li Huizhen), who's obtuseness I found highly irritating, & Sheng Yi Lun (Bai Haoyu), who was downright unlikable; the very opposite of what he was supposed to be!

The dubbed audio was clumsy & off-putting; like much of the dialog & performances, unfortunately. The main exceptions were Vin Zhang (Lin Yimu), Li Xi Rui (Xia Qiao), Wang Hi Nan (Zhu Ying), & Wang Xiao (Lin Hao). They delivered. So did the sets & scenery, now that I think about it.

The whole thing was kind of "meh." I should have paid more heed to my reaction to the summary, & left well enough alone. Disappointing!

UPDATE: Although my feelings about this particular series remain unchanged, I do feel the need to mention how my opinion regarding the audio quality has.

Recently, I was firmly -yet politely- schooled on some of the reasons why the audio is the way it is, & I'm embarrassed by my prior ignorance. I truly had no idea about the many different dialects commonly found throughout China, nor the challenges which often arise as a result. Simply learning the "why" has given me the ability to enjoy the many wonderful stories in a way I could not in the past.