becomingtia
Toronto
This drama is unbelievably sad. I was not ready for the ending and how things played out. I usually can predict how things might go and I got some things right, and some things completely shook me.I haven't cried so much over a show since Empress Ki or Prince of Lan Ling. Those shows made me avoid tragic stories for YEARS. And yet here I am again, but there are so many good reasons why this show was not a waste of time.(1) THE OST is stunning. Whoever sings the end credits has the most haunting voice ever and I could hum along to that melody for weeks. It's so beautiful and the soundtracks used were well-timed throughout the show.(2) THE CINEMATOGRAPHY & FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY is 10/10. 100% some of the best battle choreography I've seen. The rhythm of the fights along with the perfectly planned shots and angles for each moment of the battle made it so easy to follow who was getting stabbed and who was doing the stabbing.(3) THE ACTING. I was so hesitant about the male lead for 50% of the show for personal reasons, but by the end, like most of the characters in the show, I also fell for him too and believed that he truly was a hero. Bai Lu can do absolutely no wrong. I only saw her in Love is Sweet which is a contemporary drama, but I'm so impressed by how natural and subtle her facial expressions are. As an editor, it would be a dream to edit an actor whose emotions are so subtle and hidden in small actions. It makes a story easier to tell.(4) The COSTUMES were obviously gorgeous. Shiyi wore blue 99% of the time throughout the entire show, until the end where she wore red. I loved the black dragon outfit for the Emperor's enthronement and the beautiful white outfits for the General/ML.(5) THE MESSAGE is so deep and I'll be honest, it's not a new concept in the historical drama category. Two princes - one prince is desperate to have the love of people, Shiyi and fate and seeks it through evil. The other prince doesn't care to have the love of anybody, not even fate, and lives righteously. In the end, it's the latter prince who ends up with Shiyi's, the people and even fate's (shout out to the sequel) love. (6) THERE'S A SEQUEL SO EVERYONE CALM DOWN WE'RE GETTING A HAPPY ENDING. I hope. I shall find out.
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