Theory: some actors took the roles to have something to do, rather than hone their skills?

Theory: some actors took the roles to have something to do, rather than hone their skills… Pained me to see Shawn Dou Xiao in a role that didn’t utilize his acting skills to a higher degree… After forcing myself to continue watching for several episodes,… the constant bickering, suspicions and self righteous stances, rescues and lack of solid progress between the leads trusfrated, bored, and disappointed me. Yuan Hao performed well, but again, wasted his ability… Unnecessary deaths for a few characters saddened me. (esp the rewatchable Overlord’s Leon Lai Yi who didn’t have a lot of screen time, as supporting cast here)Please watch/rewatch Princess Agents and Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophesy .. Mr Dou’s early works,.. and IMHO, still his very best!

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Reviewed in a few increments

TOO MANY Clichés (especially, of course, for the “sweet, innocent, dumb, klutzy FL) in this very simple, fairly low-budget C-Drama series. ie: at only ep 6, the FL has “accidentally” fallen or tripped 4 or 5 times already… with “appropriate” bgm… omg! Sooo annoying! The characters do not act properly for ancient royalty (customs in etiquette, propriety etc)
Ep 20 ~ story has been getting More far-fetched and boring as the side stories aren’t making the main story better… The main leads don’t have much chemistry, supporting cast also poorly directed and some are stiff like cardboard.. Second ML showed more promise, but a better directed 2nd FL would have balanced out his character. I would drop this if it was a long series, but there’s only a few episodes left, so I’ll watch it through.
The last episode was poorly constructed. Dropped a point for that. Didn’t show how their relationship developed over a span of 2 years… nothing about how the 2nd leads met, or how the rest of the doppelgängers met up with them, etc. More clichés.. more sloppy scripts.
Big Sigh ~ I really wanted to like this drama series more, the ML (played by Chen Jingke) was fun in HELLO Mr GU … and I liked the 2nd ML ( played by Wei Tianhao aka Vincent Wei) who I’m not familiar with.… but the story disappointed me over and over.
I would Not recommend.

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Reviewed in increments~ Intense, straightforward storyline! 5 Stars!

Ep 19 ~ so glad I finally found a complete eng sub version of this drama series! The cast is amazing! Storyline intriguing,… intense, with very few draggy scenes up to this, almost halfway point! Love it so much!
Ep 50 ~ omg! The performances of the entire cast is fantastic! This has been one of the best drama series I’ve seen in a very long time! I will miss this storyline and the characters very much!
Completed! Enjoyed this series so much, I’ve binged-watched late into the night! I can’t stop gushing accolades for this drama series! ML ~ played by HU GE is phenomenally sublime!
Would definitely recommend,.. AND would definitely rewatch!

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???

Watched for Park Seo-Joon.. Storyline flowed well, no evil crazy rivals etc. Uhm Jung Hwa as his FL was unknown to me, they worked their professionalism well, and had good chemistry! Supporting cast also performed well in this mostly lighthearted rom/com. Would definitely recommend!!

Edit to fill required # of characters: would be nice to see a part 2 aka spinoff. After so many years… I suppose it wont happen. If anybody decides to create a remake, I highly doubt if anyone as balanced in handsome cuteness and acting performance skills as Park Seo-Joon can do a better job.

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Half way through,… Song Wei Long’s character Zhang Ping is both very smart, and incredibly stupid.. aggravating to watch his Zhang Ping not grow in depth and empathy. Loved Song Wei Long’s character in Find Yourself… guess this is another stepping stone for his acting performance artistry to grow.
Early episodes, Jing Bo Ran’s character Lan Jui, is sublimely beautiful in movement and expression. His performance interchangeable, from calm and serene, to chaotically maniacal,…
At episode 17 now,… storyline has become draggy at times… still tolerable so far.
Beautiful stages and costumes, lovely backdrops and scenery (albeit, appropriately eerie at times)
Up to ep 22~ storyline is slowly moving along, a new character has been introduced! Wang Duo aka Shulin, plays him well! His long ago connection with ML Lan Jui, belies a weird feeling…it’s eerie.
Now at ep 25 ~ Shulin strikes me as a Very sly individual… hmmm…
Just completed the series… As Shulin, Mr Wang Duo’s multilayered performance was awesome!
Sweet ending … complete as is,.. with soft opening for a potential S2. Lovely OST! Shoutout to cast and crew!

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If you’ve been indecisive about watching this.. Stop! Watch It!

Was indecisive about watching this series, wrongly thinking its success was due to Ms IU’s super star power. Finally watched and I couldn’t stop! Yeo Jin-goo was marvelous, adorable, and extremely caring! Loved the performances by All the actors, and the storyline was different and varied enough as to not get boring or repetitive. My main con/boo about this series is the end that teased/promised a sequel…with a gorgeous, well known actor… and (so far) there’s been zero news about it. …my other annoyance is, in comparison- negligible, so nevermind.
I would most definitely recommend this K-Drama Series!

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DuanWu (“Rosy” Zhao Lusi ) and her adventures

Big fan of Zhao Lusi (FL Duan Wu/Su Mu Zhe)~ Don’t know her, but was impressed with Xie Ke Yin ( Cui Zhuo Hua). Male Leads were ok, but obviously played 2nd fiddle to the Pearl Girl. …
Romance was light… due to the storyline,… I understand, but wished it was~ different. .. I feel without romance as a primary point.. aside from their goals/character development… there could have been more detail about her achievement/s.
Big shoutout to the wonderful supporting cast, most Especially the seasoned veteran actors! :) I love it when I see veteran actors in roles that are supposedly secondary, but their skills really bring the performances together more seamlessly!
I would recommend this drama series.

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Storyline gets better & better ~ FL Not “sweet/dumb/klutzy” etc! Yaaah!

Not familiar with the main leads, the synopsis intrigued me to watch this series. I enjoyed the storyline right away, as I love strong, independent FLs over the so-called “sweet/dumb/innocent/klutzy” types.
As the story progressed, I found myself alternately getting trusfrated or laughing as the characters drew me in. A few veteran actors also worked as great finishing touches to keep my attention glued enough~ to binge-watch.
All three couples were entertaining enough and different, so their stories weren’t boring for me.
Other than the Main Leads, played by Zhang Wan Yi and Wang Chu Ran, the character who I liked the most is the young Empress played by Yuan Yu Xuan! She’s absolutely adorable, more sensible than me?, and down-to-earth.
Shoutout to the entire cast! They were awesome!
I would definitely recommend!

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So-so…

Don’t know FL (Zhou Yutong), came for Gong Jun. I feel he could step up and choose more complicated, intense roles to
broaden his acting resumé.
Second couple ( Garvey Jin & Wu Man Si ) had a silly but sweet story.
Storyline is relatively simple minded, yet quite draggy in several episodes. If you don’t mind that, and some repetitive scenes.. it’s alright.
Both couples do not have great chemistry which fizzled out romantic scenes, but they got the msg across.
I feel this is a series to watch while cooking or light exercise.. if you miss something, 85% it may happen again, or its probably not crucial to storyline.

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Did my best … finally DROPPED - You’ve been Warned!

What started as a cute, cheeky rom/com… eventually showed as (another) rich, dominant (multi-)male, typical drama series, with a dumb/ignorant, cute FL.. who is pushed around, cornered, bullied, etc..
At ep 9 now… intermittent draggy scenes has me skipping the multi-flashbacks/cutesy etc scenes. Storyline has apparently left the room.. as there isn’t any concrete (or even flimsy) reason as to why she’s still at the complex… as her weekly ‘missions’ were complete..without any new ‘mission assignments’ for the last few episodes… also-> lots and lots of casual invasion of personal space, and spaces all around.
The Director’s lazy(?) lack of attention to many details have become irksome.. ie: 1. Why is hair damp/dry, after being soaked in the rain, or full body swimming. #eyeroll 2. Civilians are NOT casually allowed in construction sites. Etc etc!!
Debating whether to Drop this series…..
Ep 10 ~ can’t tolerate this limited budget, poorly executed drama series anymore! DROPPED!

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Really tried to like it enough to complete cos I admire the ML…

Really tried to like it enough to complete cos I admire the ML… Jing Chao …
Imho … storyline/individual cases aren’t engaging/exciting… draggy with moments of comedy… dropped halfway…The Actors/ supporting cast performances were commendable/good, but I couldn’t watch anymore.
(The rest of this review is due to the minimum 500 characters for reviews) I decided to drop it after taking breaks and inevitably watching … finishing Other drama series.. and coming back to continue… After watching 3 Other very good (or better) drama series… I came back a final time and eventually decided to drop it.

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Starts out engaging,…

First coupla episodes were alright. FL was smart, quick, and confident. After she entered the school grounds… most of that seemed to dissolve. Very, very typical falling scenes (with timely rescues, and bgm), wide-eyed moments of fright/shock etc… the fact that she’s a girl, is extremely obvious! …after several episodes, nearly all primary characters react verbally in slow motion, and there are too many flashbacks.
Halfway thru the series, imho, storyline is way too slow, and getting boring… omg, she started out tolerable.. but the 2nd FL(?) has become annoying … and the ML is such a wuss.. so many times with her! Getting sick of waiting for him to tell her to back off / he doesn’t like her, or similar.
Thinking of dropping it. ..
Ok,.. early ep 12,… can’t stand it anymore. Dropping it.

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