Xinci Ling

Man, I started out really liking the show. The characters were charming, their interactions were funny, and the subtle but clear chemistry between the leads were all so good. Maybe it was because the beginning started off so strong and the middle had some really cute romantic scenes that I had high expectations for it from then on. But, as the story continued, yes the villain was convincingly ruthless but his complex actions ended up making him the only thing left watching. The chemistry began to dwindle into nothing but emotionless actions, and the plotline seemed rather outrageous. Perhaps some of it would be more convincing with better CGI and graphics, but you still cannot help but realize how ridiculous some of the scenes are. I could tell that the script writers were trying to grasp at a dramatic and heartwrenching story somewhere in the plot, but the plot progression and character choices were sometimes so logically incoherent that I just did not feel much of the emotions it was trying to stimulate. (Also, I HATED watching the scenes between the second lead couple. It got to the point where I started skipping all of the remaining ones because it was both toxic and repetitive). There are A LOT of great actors and actresses in this drama, but their characters were written up to be so one dimensional that it was sometimes not enough to compensate. I think my favorite scenes would have to be after they see each other following the city battle and the one with the hairpin. If you are into cliche things that don't really make sense then I suppose you would enjoy it to the end, but I am definitely not.

I have watched A LOT of Chinese dramas, and it usually takes several tries before you find one that is truly great but this is definitely one of them. I feel like viewers might go into it thinking it is targeted towards a much younger audience, given its gender bender and harem themes - and truly, it has plenty of hilarious and light-hearted moments. But the more you watch it, the more you can appreciate that its depiction of youth, patriotism, the consequences of civil war, and friendship is sculpted from a more mature and almost nostalgic lens. A lot of the issues it raises are very real and very captivating, and so the plot itself is never boring, yet never rushed. The historical theme is played out well throughout. There are plenty of action scenes that leave you at the edge of your seats. The actors did a fantastic job, and every character has turned out memorable. I love that the female lead grows to become a strong, capable, and independent woman. Of course with any work, there are flaws. The one I deem as the major issue is the lack of intimacy development between the main leads. You see the male lead constantly pursuing the female, and it is shown that they end up together. However, the development of their relationship almost stops after the female lead declares she might have some romantic feelings for the male lead. There is barely anything in her actions to depict this. It obviously takes time for characters to break down their barriers, but I wish I would have seen more of that in addition to the intricate plot already laid out considering how I was looking forward to the romantic aspect of the chemistry between the characters. Even, and especially, if this means increasing the runtime. One other flaw is that the main character's reasoning for why she joined the Arsenal Military Academy was super weak and not convincing enough for me logically and emotionally. It felt like the one thing no one really put the effort into trying to explain. Other than that, it was a really good drama. I laughed a lot, held my breath a lot, and teared up a lot. Highly recommend.

This is going to be a very conflicted review, because - in truth - the beginning 2/3 of the drama was a real drag. The very beginning was interesting, but the rest of the 2/3 grew into a very long attempt at explaining a backstory as to how the characters came to be as they did. And it was not done very well. New characters kept coming up like word vomit, and in truth it got to a point where I was not even sure who was being referred to when names came up (other than the several main protagonists). I was not very interested or invested in the plot that seemed very mundane despite all the fight scenes and "twists" put into it. I was very very ready to drop the drama, but my curiosity and stubbornness got me wondering why the drama received such praise. By the time I got to what I believe was the 25th episode, the advancement of the plot took a sharp turn. It was as if something clicked in the producers, the director, and the actors - as if this was what they were all waiting for and working towards. The dynamics between some of the characters grew to be much more complex on the screen, and you could almost feel the emotions these characters did. The cinematography shifted to bring out the most in each scene (even in some subtle aspects). You grow to love and respect the relationship between the two main protagonists even more. The background story finally plays a vivid and impactful role on the present. The acting became more impressive. I believe the last episode was my favorite. There is said to be a 7-minute long 37th episode, fitting to those who are unsatisfied with the ending. But, it just blew my mind how the last 9 episodes could turn my one star rating into a 4 (honestly a 4.5). If you are willing to stick around long enough, the wait is most certainly worth it. Their friendship (or bromance if that is what you prefer to call it) is very touching to watch, and each character develops in their own way. Would definitely recommend.