I started this when it first aired. But I kept putting it aside because of various reasons, ranging from being busy with real life stuff to frustrations having to do with the plot. I finally decided to finish it. Or more like I wanted to see how bad it was or how biased I was after having watched some more stuff of Xiao Zhan in general. Yet I noticed something and I thought it taught me a good lesson regarding some matters. So, yes, all wasn’t a waste. I didn’t say this was a terrible production. It was indeed quite notable in some aspects and brought out a different perspective for us to think about. But it fell short because of some issues that weren’t properly resolved.
Main Cast:
- Xiao Zhan (肖战) as Shi Ying (时影). The crowned prince of Kongsang who was dethroned and believed to be killed because of the power struggles between various parties. Shi Ying seemed calmed and enlightened for the most part. Yet, he had a dark side that was hard to manage if he wasn’t careful. It was mostly fused by the injustice he felt about what happened to his mother and how his uncle heightened those hate through different methods. Yet, his intention and actions were understandable for the most part. Acting? I felt this was a contrast for his character in The Untamed. I thought he did really well. There was a sense of matureness he brought to the role, given the almost enlightened stage he was at. However, there was just one final test he needed to pass. And it ironically had to do with returning to the human world and experiencing the many real feelings and the unwillingness to let go.
- Ren Min (任敏) as Zhu Yan (朱颜). The princess of the Chi Clan. She was said to be uncouth and stubborn and not knowing or understanding the proper ways or manners of a typical princess. However, it was a virtue of her clan to be straightforward and strong. This was my first time watching her and I thought she was the right person for the role but I felt she wasn’t impressive. Maybe it was because it was the typical stubborn, rash character but had a kind heart deep down that seemed repetitive. It wasn’t her fault, it was a trend at one time that became tiring to watch time and time again. And many said that it was her hair that didn’t match and made her look unappealing but I didn’t think so. It was her performance or maybe the directors, so she couldn’t break out of some typical mold. What was more, she seemed more natural and comfortable during serious scenes versus playful, outright obnoxious scenes. I felt she was too trying during those moments. Maybe she was trying hard to act like she was indeed mischievous or whatever. But it backfired for me.
Supporting:
Jiuyi Mountain (九嶷山)
- Han Dong (韩栋) as Shi Yu (時鈺). Shi Ying’s uncle and master. I knew right from the start he was trouble. Because he was acting blindly based upon his own perception of things and disregarded Shi Ying’s mother’s words completely, almost turning Shi Ying into a vengeful person (someone his mother would never wanted him to be). He had an agenda of his own yet always used Shi Ying’s tragedy as an excuse to seek revenge or more from the royal court. In some ways, I was glad he changed his mind about things later, when it wasn’t too late. But I was very frustrated with him at one point for his own rash moves that had made things worse. Then I completely forgave him, considering the king was worse with his stubbornness and arrogant attitude. Like, I get it, dude.
- Marcus Li (李明德) as Chong Ming (重明). A divine bird. At first, I found him loud and extremely annoying. However, he grew on me because of his many senseless schemes and antics. In some ways, it was because he cared. In other ways, it made things more complicated. Regardless, he tried.
Kongsang Royal Family (空桑皇族)
- Mickey He (何晟铭) as Shi Jun (時珺)/ Emperor Beimian. Shi Ying’s father. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt at times yet he turned out to be a complete asshole after all. It didn’t matter who was scheming or causing problems at the court or within the palace. He wanted to listen to whatever party made him feel good and disregard the honest ones. If one didn’t know how to stroke his ego, they were in big trouble. It was hard to sympathize with him regardless of what happened throughout. His fake outrage at things and his arrogance made it hard to sympathize with him. I just felt bad for the people around him, except for those troublemakers who wanted to stir things up and loved the chaos, obviously.
- Ye Sheng Jia (葉盛佳) as Shi Yu (时雨). Shi Ying’s younger brother. He became the crowned prince after his brother was believed to be dead. So, he stepped into that role to be controlled by his mother and uncle. He might appear weak and indecisive at times but he had a kind heart. What was more, he wasn’t greed-driven like his mother and uncle. He wasn’t naive either because he knew too well what his mother and uncle were up to. What upset him the most was seeing how his mother tried to kill his older brother time and time again. That had forced him to make the decision of running away with his beloved and leaving the palace behind. Many might think he was a coward for running but that was what thought was the best decision. He didn’t want to fight or see things escalate further.
- Gallen Lo (羅嘉良) as Lang Can (琅玕) / Emperor Xing Zun (星尊大帝). The founder and first emperor of Kongsang. Very brief appearance but had a major impact on the story. It was him who started it all in the first place.
Bai Clan (白族)
- Zeng Li (曾黎) as Bai Yan (白嫣). Shi Ying’s mother, the queen of Kongsang. Another tragic role for her. A short role but a memorable presence in Shi Ying’s life. She was so kind and thoughtful yet was destroyed by jealous parties and a stupid husband. (Yeah, I’m not holding back.) I guess her only fault was entrusting her love in the wrong person. Luckily, her son never disappointed her.
- Zhang Lei (張磊) as Bai Jing An (白敬安)/ Emperor of the White Clan. He was a piece of work all right. The only thing that was impressive about him was somehow conning two women to fall for him. Or was the other marriage an arranged one so they had no choice? But seriously. He was an asshole through and through. His manipulation and disregard for the lives that wasn’t his own was really despicable. I was glad Xue Lu finally opened her eyes and flipped him off. (She did more than that but the simple, modern term still sent the message, lol.)
- Fan Lin Feng (樊霖鋒) as Bai Feng Lin (白風麟). Shi Ying’s cousin, Bai Jing An’s son. He was another asshole in here that didn’t deserve any sympathy from anyone. It wasn’t because he was arrogant because of his royal background either. That was practically almost everyone in here, except for like four people. But he was in favor of war, even wanting to stretch it out so he could earn some military merits. It was both greedy and despicable rolled into one. And like his father, he looked down on his sister, Xue Lu, but pretended like they were on the same side. He used her mother as a bargaining chip that one time but acted like it was for her own good.
- Wang Chu Ran (王楚然) as Bai Xue Lu (白雪鷺). Bai Jing An’s daughter. She was considered the illegitimate child because of her mother’s background. So, her father used that against her and exploited her talents. She took it to heart and tried to prove herself, gaining power and status regardless of tactics. She justified her actions a lot throughout and it became tiring and frustrating to see her also falling into others’ web of lies. I like Wang Chu Ran, okay? This was my first time watching her (as probably to many as well) and she did later become more popular because of other roles she took on and managed to impress viewers. I admitted that she grabbed my attention right away (and harmed the main lead major time regarding screen time and capabilities) and her acting proved convincing with bringing out her character. When I heard she was easily forgiven and was given more grace than Zhu Yan, I was equally frustrated, knowing what happened at the beginning and what types of tricks Xue Lu pulled. However, when I finally watched those parts, I understood why. I was still mad at her but I was glad she had a turnaround moment. Even if she might or might not deserved it. Was she pitiful and unfairly judged because of her mother’s background? (Which they were ridiculous to judge her mother. Her father picked her mother after all so why wasn’t anyone looking down on him if we were talking about backgrounds? Let me roll my eyes. Because we already know the answer.) Yes, she was. But that didn’t excuse some of her underhanded tricks either. Did I welcome her rebellion when she finally had enough and fight for her life? Yes, I was yelling at the screen, “Finally!” because it was about time she came around or never. Yes, I got it that she got a lot to prove and her weakness was wanting her mom to be acknowledged. That was why her father and supposed brother held it over her head for so long. But knowing she was lied to and her wishes would never be fulfilled regardless was important to her journey. She needed to break away from them. What made me forgive her completely was when she and Qing Gang saved Zhu Yan and finally apologized to her for what she’d done. That was important because she can’t repent until she acknowledged and truly apologized for her past wrongdoings. That was why it mattered.
- Lu Yu Xiao (盧昱曉) as Bai Xue Ying (白雪鶯). Bai Jing An’s daughter, Bai Xue Lu’s younger sister. She was gentle and kind and sometimes too timid. So, yes, basically a pushover. In some ways, she was too simplistic and weak (in her father’s eyes) and couldn’t do much. However, her kindness and good heart won in the end because she managed to endure it all and didn’t abandon her love. It wasn’t because of her newly gained status that made her important either. But it sent a message that kindness was important. Her determination to keep that kind heart wasn’t something anyone could do. She didn’t cave regarding that even if she was bullied for being too weak. I was also glad she and her sister made peace later and was able to start over.
Qing Clan (青族)
- Ruan Sheng Wen (阮聖文) as Qing Dong Fang (青東方). King of the Qing clan. Very despicable, I swear I thought he was related that Bai Feng Lin.
- Chen Zi Han (陳紫函) as Qing Yun (青雲). Shi Yu’s mother, Consort Qing of Kongsang. Scheming and despicable. She thought very highly of herself and saw no wrong in what she did. She also thought she had the upper hand in things and how she won in the battle of the courts regarding how the king favored her at times. Yet, she didn’t realize in the end she was just another pawn to him. So, was she more hateful or pitiful? Probably both. Because she paid heavily for something that didn’t matter one way or another.
- Wang Zi Qi (王子奇) as Qing Gang (青罡). The leader of the Shadow Warriors. He was seen too honest at times and not too sharp. However, he was initially sent to spy on Shi Ying and eventually harm Zhu Yan. Yet, he was proved to be a man of principle and never caved. Even if he loved Xue Lu dearly but didn’t waver when it mattered. Sure, he got tricked by her time and time again. But he didn’t encourage or aid her in those misdeeds when he learned what she was trying to do. His strong sense of friendship with Zhu Yan also showed he was a good person, not caring if others of his clan would punish him. He respected and treated Zhu Yan like a real friend. Perhaps, it was his determination and honorable ways that had pushed Xue Lu to do the right thing at long last, giving them both a new future.
Chi Clan (赤族)
- Guo Jun (郭軍) as Zhu Gao Zhao (朱高照). Zhu Yan’s father. King of the Chi clan. I felt so bad for him as did his wife. Because he had to weigh a lot of things, knowing his daughter was so rebellious at times. (Even if she thought what she did was the right thing.) He just wanted to protect his clan.
- Yang Ming Na (楊明娜) as Zhu Chang Xiang (朱裳湘). Zhu Yan’s mother.
- Ding Jie (丁潔) as Yu Fei (玉緋). Zhu Yan’s maid.
- Hu Xiao Ting (胡小庭) as Granny Sheng (盛嬤嬤).
Merfolk Clan (鲛族)
- Zhang Bin (張彬) as Merfolk.
- Maggie Chen (陈欣予) as Qiu Shui (秋水). A mermaid and a consort of Kongsang.
- Alen Fang (方逸伦) as Chi Yuan (赤渊) / Zhi Yuan (止淵). Mixed feelings throughout. Because at times, he was shown as kind and nice and all. But his stubbornness could get in the way at times. Sure, he wasn’t perfect but his ways at times made me frustrated. Possibly because he trusted the other guy too much that had caused some complications.
- Vanessa Wang Yi Yao (王伊瑶) as Ru Yi (如意) / Zhi Bing (止冰). Zhi Yuan’s younger sister. I pitied her. At first, I didn’t like her because of her attitude. But I soon realized it was hard to blame her because of what happened to her clan. She tried her best to do her part and protect her people. She was also conned by that one guy. But she also cared deeply for her brother.
Others:
- Hei Zi (黑子) as Old King of Huotu Tribe (霍图部老王爺).
Relationships: family, friendships, romances, etc.
- Xiao Zhan and Ren Min. I don’t know. Yes, I still don’t know what to feel about them. Sometimes, I felt the opposite attract formula worked for them. Others, I was frustrated because of the relationship dynamics that changed throughout. Sometimes, it felt too trying. I did like that Zhu Yan saved Shi Ying from becoming the worst version of himself when he was almost consumed by his hatred in the cave. I also liked that they taught one another to see the world differently. They weren’t perfect but learned and grew throughout. Even if he was almost reaching enlightenment stage but there were things he still couldn’t let go. And it seemed like she was another test. Or that was the way the series’ version chose to portray, considering how they killed him off. But as co-stars? I felt there was something missing. I think I addressed this matter previously when watching The Legend of Zang Hai (even though I know this one was first and the other one was after). It wasn’t them per say, but it was more like Xiao Zhan’s problem with creating chemistry with his co-stars. I say this from a place of love, okay? (I have a category for him (aka he has to be important enough for me to care to create one.)) In some ways, it was thanks to the other one that I decided to go back to this one to watch and see without too much initial biases (because of the frustration with some plot details).
- Fang Yi Lun and Ren Min. I felt in some ways, they were better matched. Just as co-stars. I could see more chemistry with them. Yeah, it would be weird (like super weird and gross) because he was with her ancestor at one point. And he was misled into believing that she was a reincarnation of her. Also, a very terrible move on Zhu Yan’s part in pulling that one trick, thinking that she was helping. BUT it wasn’t helpful in any way, shape, or form.
- Wang Chu Ran and Wang Zi Qi. Interestingly, their story actually made the most sense to me. They were at odds at first because of the different motives they had coming into the competition on the mountain. Then they learned more about one another yet was held back by other priorities. It was obvious Qing Gang loved Xue Lu, but again, like I said, he wasn’t blinded by it. He had a good sense to judge things for himself, making his decisions. Even if he was torn at times regarding some characters, he eventually made the right decision, because to him, that was the correct one. He knew who was good and bad, NOT what other parties told him, even if they were from his clan. It was obvious that Xue Lu was blinded by needing to prove herself and wanting her mother to be acknowledged, like covered above. But she wasn’t completely unmoved by what others said, or more specifically, by what Qing Gang said. Even if she tried to push it aside and justify her actions, his persistency actually got through. Their chemistry wasn’t bad. It was refreshing in some ways.
Likes:
- The cast. Although I complained here and there regarding characters but I truly felt they fitted their roles. It was just a matter of establishing chemistry here and there. To be honest, the majority didn’t really have that strong of a chemistry with one another either–whether as lover or friends. I thought the strongest was actually Ren Min and Alen Fang, then Wang Chu Ran and Wang Zi Qi. Or reverse them. Because I could see the angst at times between WCR and WZQ and then the wit competition at times. It gave their story some background. As for the other two, I already discussed up there. Regarding friendship, at times, it seemed loose but other times it felt like it was better to see their actions in play than empty talks. Like how Qing Gang had acted time and time again, to support the others when they needed it. Say what you will, the majority of the main cast went on to bigger projects later and established a reputation for themselves. So, I could say solid cast in general.
- Makeup, hairstyles, and costumes. Interestingly, they did very well making the character looked unique, bringing their personalities. And I know it will hurt to say it, but Ren Min probably got the short end of the stick. Or maybe they couldn’t come up with the best look for her. But I thought her image captured her character already, with the tie-in to her clan and all. I honestly think the pre-modern era image was Ren Min’s best bet. Because I saw her in that era’s clothes promoting with Li Xian on Hello Saturday and almost didn’t recognize her because of how they managed to create that character’s image for her.
Dislikes:
- The siblings rivalry between Bai Xue Lu and Bai Xue Ying. I had enough of this formula and for once wish the siblings (whether female or their male counterparts in any scenario–not just this series) would break through somehow and fight against the force that made their lives miserable. Sure, they couldn’t just off their father like that. But I wished they would go against the grain and got along just to piss their parents off with all the goading and fanning the flame. Xue Ying wasn’t fighting because she wasn’t competitive. But I would have expected more from Xue Lu, who supposedly was intelligent and witty. She still played right into her father’s hand by going against her sister or the quiet competitions. I had no problem with her with wanting to rise up or maybe marrying off well or whatever. That was her choice. But I hated she thought she was smart and all but couldn’t break through her father’s manipulations. So, I was glad they managed to resolve their conflicts in the end and start over. Yet, it was too brief. Because they focused on some other unnecessary dramas too much. So yeah, that was why I wasn’t completed satisfied with their ending.
- Zhu Yan’s impulsiveness throughout. Yes, I do get it she had a good heart in general. BUT her acting out of rashness time and time again, not learning from past mistakes made it very frustrating. (And I already called Xue Lu out in different sections of the review so don’t say I’m just one-sidedly picking on Zhu Yan.) The most unforgivable was probably posing as her ancestor to bring forth some buried feelings within Ah Yuan. He didn’t deserve that. It created a lot of complications and destroyed his reputation completely. It didn’t matter that he didn’t blame her. Some damages couldn’t be undone and played into the later conflicts. Yes, I knew they (the scriptwriters) did some things on purpose to move the plot forward, especially the inevitable pending war. However, it was very frustrating to see how Zhu Yan just seemed to never grow. If she did, it was one step forward and then two steps backward. It also brought forth the idea that she was so spoiled that she thought she could try anything and it would be fine. Just because she wasn’t looking down on others (which you could see how nice and kind she treated the citizens) or displayed any sort of arrogance toward people in general didn’t mean she wasn’t spoiled in another sense. OR was she too naive to think the consequences wouldn’t catch up? Or perhaps, almost all problems seemed to solve itself without her having to take an active role in it that she thought she would get away with it too? I can’t even understand her thought process at times. Did she try harder to help later on with the craziness surrounding them? Yes, but it seemed like a step back (like said above) each time she stumbled into some trouble because of her rash actions.
Discussions:
- Adaptation vs. Novel. I didn’t read it. Or more like I started it but gave up because I ran out of patience. I skipped around a bit though. What I heard a lot was the main couple ended up together in the novel versus how the adaptation chose to approach it. Why change that ending? I don’t know. Whatever, I guess. But maybe Chinese viewers like tragedies more so the creators of the show changed it? I don’t know. It seemed to be a recurring theme of recent years. So, whatever, really.
Recommended? No. Unless you like those palace fights and endless, senseless battles among different clans because of some war hungry, power greed decided it was a great idea. Yes, it was very frustrating and I didn’t enjoy it as much, especially the later parts. The only reason I finished it was because I didn’t want to keep dropping Xiao Zhan series. And I did like Wang Chu Ran and Lu Yu Hao’s performances a lot. Also, Wang Zi Qi was a surprise.
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