The Wolf – Romeo Juliette

I liked this series as a whole, primarily for the stella cast. Everyone did a great job, but kudos to the 2 main leads and the 3 supporting lead casts. From the start it was about romance and it didn’t disappoint. The initial story idea is great, kind of a Romeo, Juliette. The 2 leads have great chemistry and should have had more scenes together especially in the last 10 episodes. Whether they were together or fighting against each other you were drawn into the pain and love they had for each other. There are 49 episodes and I enjoyed about 39. The best episodes are 19 and 37,38 and the first part of the series is much better than the second part. This is due to the writing and direction and not the cast. There are still a few good scenes in the last 10 episodes but it becomes predictable, boring and silly. Had I not invested 39 hours watching the first 39 episodes, I would have stopped watching. The best scene in the last 10 episodes in between Yoa Ji and Wolfie (episode 39 - Fireside Chat).

What I liked:
Liked this was centered around a love story between the 2 main leads from their childhood. Liked Night Fury, should have been more scenes like in episode 4. Liked that fact that there was background to many of the characters (except Yoa Ji). Liked the fact that they provided context with rewinds of past memories for Wolfie and Ma Zhar Xing. Liked the fact that despite what was happening we knew Ma Zhar Xing and Wolfie always wanted to protect the other. Liked the music! With some corrections listed below it could have been a classic

Things I didn’t like.
The depressing ending, which showed a severe lack of writing creativity that I expected after episode 19 (cliff jump). The ending reminded me of a bad mid-70’s kung fu movie.
Didn’t like the theme change in the last 10 episodes, trying to bring peace to the world.
Didn’t like much in the last 10 episodes. Boring with significant edits. These episodes couldn’t be saved even without the edits There were a few good scenes, but the writing is a major issue..
Didn’t like how Ma Zhar Xing learned the truth about Wolfie (episode 45). Early in the series she was revered for her intelligence, able to solve investigations, mysteries and find the truth. Alas in the latter episodes she has to be told the truth by Ji Chong (very disappointed). I wanted the series to stay true to what it had built on at the beginning, using her intelligence to figure out what really happened to her family and the elements during the Boxiang battle (episode 37). I would have preferred she figured it out herself as stated, but at the very least have Yoa Ji provide the truth setting up some tension not ji Chong.
We were supposed to believe that Ma Zhar Xing had grown, matured and changed but the only change was that she developed hatred believing Wolfie had killed her family.
The Yoa Ji character should have had more interactions with Ma Zhar Xing in the later episodes, instead of using her in scenes with the emperor’s court.

Things I don’t understand:
Ma Zhar Xing felt sorrow for Wolfie after the loss of his family killed by her own family, but didn’t think Wolfie deserved revenge, the way she did when she thought he killed her family.
Why didn’t Chu Ki (emperor) not use Night Fury to address the threat from his son Chu Yu Gui (2nd pince)?
How does Chu Yu Gui (emperor’s 2nd son) challenge for the throne after only getting out of prison a few days?
Why did the scene in the Longevity Forest in episode 45 not get cut (juvenile writing - Princess Boa rescue scene)?
Why would Wolfie need to rescue Night Fury (episode 45) if he’s going to be taking down the Chu Kui and Chu Yu Gui (emperor and son) 5 days later?
Why does Ma Zhar Xing throw her sword at the tree instead of killing Chu Yu Gui (episode 45)?
Why did Ma Zhar Xing get married (episode 40) a day after her return to quiet critics, wouldn’t that generate more talk?
During the early episodes both Ma Zhar Xing and Wolfie are narrating, how it that possible if they’re dead in the end?
Why did Ma Zhar Xing sacrifice herself in the end knowing that her people depend on her staying alive?
How do you square the 2 main leads and heroes having the same fate as the 2 main nemesis? –

Notice all these issues are later in the series. The problems are because there isn’t a book/novel as a guide or reference, so the writers struggled badly after a pretty strong beginning.

Despite all this, it’s worth a watch, but…. The sad ending, poor writing, bad editing throughout averts a rewatch. I would probably be interested in a director’s cut though.

Read More