El Lobo (2020)

This is not the worst but not really good either

I wanted to watch this for 2 reasons. I really liked the trailer and wanted to support one of the actors. To be honest because of the trailer I was expecting a lot more fantasy elements what it has. The story starts pretty interestingly, the base of it has a lot of potential. However the journey between the start and end point is very messy. The plot is very stretched out and boring in a big portion of the drama. In other places it is very hazy and rushed with no explanations. The support characters tend to be more interesting and lovable than the 2 main characters. There are a couple of very nice scenes also, when you wonder if it's the same drama what you were watching 5 minutes ago. The ending is really obvious from pretty early on wich makes the whole drama feel like it's way too long for the plot. Kind of like a twisted and bad remake of Romeo and Juliet. Honestly the plot doesn't make it worth to watch it but other things kinda make it up for it.

Characters

Prince Bo: Very interesting, two sided character used in a really bad way. Overall he is not bad, has very human traits but his character is romanticizing of being rude and using brutal actions towards your loved ones. He is also intelligent and can be kindhearted. His relationship with his brothers and the Night Fury makes him likable.
Ma Zhai Xing: A hot mess, the most frustrating female character ever. One minute she is a genius, independent and strong and than suddenly she is a crying kindergartner who naively using everyone who helps her. The only character development she has is actually in the last episode. I don't know what the writers thought when they created her.
Ji Chong: One of the good ones. Really free spirited, playful and intelligent. A little bit arrogant. He was really relatable for me. A little bit unrealistically kind, putting others before himself. The thing that made him the most human was his argument with Bao Na.
Yao Ji: One of the most interesting one, with not enough screen time. She wasn't used for her potential but had a great character development. I really wanted to see more of her.
Bao Na: A spoiled and immature princess starting pretty badly and growing on you. She has some smaller improvements during the story. She is more like a true support character with good intentions and flaws.
Night Fury: The gems of this drama. They are not likable at the start but growing on you quickly. I can't even understand how are they this well written when the main characters are so messy.
Ma Jing: I have to mention her because I feel bad for her. She is created to bring comical relief to the drama. It would be okay if she wouldn't be the stereotypical chubby girl. Really? That's the best? The chubby girl talking about eating and having a crush on a handsome guy. She was lovable but this solution is disappointing.
The villains are so boring I don't even want to write about them.
Personal favorites: Ji Chong, Wen Yan, Ma Jing, 4th prince, chief eunuch of jin
Personal ships: Prince Bo and Yao Ji, Ji Chong and Bao Na, Wen Yan and Ma Jing, Mo Xiao and Hai Die

Production

One of the things that makes this drama worth to watch is the production value. The cinematography is gorgeous, one of the most beautiful I ever seen. There are no good description for it. Amazing location choices witch makes you want to travel there. The music is very good, the opening song is very unusual but I liked it a lot. The editing is also good, the filters used make some of the colors too bright but overall it isn't too bothering. I have mixed feelings of the cg however. The backgrounds are okay not the best not the worst. However the animals are quite bad for excepting Zhui Ri. The bird looking so realistic that I doubting it is cg. The props in some places look kind of fake, mostly hair pieces and bowles. The make-up is good however on close ups fake eyelashes and circle lenses are standing out way too much. The fake blood seemed super realistic in some places, but the color was too bright and foundation looked orange sometimes probably because of the filters used. The wigs are often fake looking and the actors real hair peaking out. I wasn't fond of the clothes. The fabric choices were too modern for the era. Many plastic looking, too shiny outfits even the armors can look unrealistic. However some of the female clothes are super nice. Unfortunately the drama was dubbed with voice actors. Most of the voices fitted to the characters but Ma Zhai Xing's and Ji Chong's voices can be annoying.

Acting

Very impressive acting work given the the story material. The acting is the other thing that makes it up for the story. I think everybody did a good job so I can only praise them.
Darren Wang: First time watching his drama and I am really impressed. His execution of emotions through his expressions is truly amazing. I am definitely keeping an eye out for his future works.
Li Qin: Her character was so annoying I could barely pay attention for her acting. I think she did a good job but I don't want to judge her by the role she was playing. I am looking into BTS scenes for more content. Currently watching an other drama with her in order to get to know her acting better.
Xiao Zhan: It is noticeable he had less acting experience when this was filmed but did a really good job regardless.

I only recommend this drama if you are looking for beautiful filming locations, good music and you are fan of any of the actors or actresses. Otherwise you will find this drama boring pretty quickly. It would be nice if the rating would reflect the value of this drama but many people rating their favorite actor/actress. Don't have high expectations and you might even enjoy this.

Apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes, english is my second language :)

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Fast pace Storyline

Finished this in 4 days...
Literally swollen eyes daily...
One of my top drama for 2020.

I must say although this was filmed 3 yrs ago, it did not look much outdated.
I also did not read preview and went to watch. I believed watchin with open heart rather than knowing ending.

Cinematography
Because they went to Shangri la for filming. Most are real scenery.Backdrops are wild and amazing... sweeping majestic scenes
Lots of real ground for battle scene. Forest suitable for wolf scene.
There is very little cg. Except for the animals...
Kudos to actors able to act with cg on point... eg watching how the butterfly flies, eyes following it...
Fightin i would say its,better in the first few episodes.
Esp,when for wolf prince and in battles.

Costumes
Very heavy armour for ML. But its menacing and he carries the look well, though it seems a size bigger. Not sure if cos its too cold. I like his hair! Punk! Very apt for this show.
Second ML as a prince should wear better and more luxurious costumes i feel... his wanderer look is better.
FL have good range of costumes i feel so its not boring.
Villian lady have ridiculous headpiece i feel. As with those silly makeup on some attendants.
The kings and army are also well dressed.

Actors
FL is veteran actress. So very impressed with her crying scenes. Although at 30 she can act and looks like a young girl.
She also seems too tired i feel as can see her eyebags even with makeup. Her character supposed to be strong and clever. In several episodes, the script portrays her as childish. But i like that she is kind and forge lots of friendship. She carries her amour well.

ML is also veteran actor. He is a dude who can smirk and still looks good. Rarely have such actors who has natural smirk, shows true emotions and not caring if handsome on screen. Many scenes with raw angry emotions across his face. So many smirks that score points. His cold heart black face and trusting wolf face also on point. He is made for this character. He lets off his rage face 100% in show. Ugly but cool. Suffering on the inside, still look cool. Very Man.

Second ML is quite cool. He carries the look of wanderer better than a prince. His acting when fighting with ML is good. Very natural at laughing. Though i don understand why still need to keep a stubble when became a prince. He has his puppy eyes always looking at FL, boost his lovelorn look.

Khitan princess was quite refreshing.
Acting very realistic to spoilt princess.
Pouting lips and all

Story
Not based on book. So im impressed by the the flow... it is quick and makes sense. I hardly do marathons. The storyline helps. Very sad, both characters made for each other and sacrifice for each other. Went through alot yet still cannot be together. I did not expect so much raw emotions, almost crying every other episode.
script writing is good, at the heartless part of the wolf prince. He suffering inside so much. Really makes one heart pain for him. Many heartfelt scenes.
I usually drop dramas that dont gel and make sense.
I believed the editing falls short. Some scenes were deleted that left me abit confused as it fast forwards the show. Esp towards FL getting poisoned.
There.are.some flashbacks which i think can reduce.
Would love more involvement of the wolves.
OST is amazing as per all other reviews. It truly helps lift the show.

Overall good job by producers, team and actors. Finally made it to screen after 3 yrs and its well done.
Will rewatch for WoLf's smirk.

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a wolf boy, a kind girl, such a great love.

An engaging, emotional, burning and bittersweet, love story.
A boy raised among wolves and a kind girl, they became friends and fall in love. A love that accompanies and marks their life in a succession of events, misunderstandings, affection and the desire to protect loved ones at all costs. All told very well, it's interesting and makes you want to see all the episodes one after the other!
I fell in love with everything, actors, settings, outfits and hairstyles.

Each character has an important role, a story and feelings to tell. You can see how the main characters mature throughout the story by showing all their sides.

Even if we have different scenes of war and military politics, love is the center of all.
We have 4 hearts that love so much, everyone feels a sincere and pure love.
A heart that truly loves can do everything but if it's not reciprocated it will come to a point where it has to stop and the only way to move forward is to let the other go.
Ji Chong and Yao Ji have sincerely revealed their feelings (for Zhaixing and Bo prince) they put their life in danger to protect the person they believed in and then, they realized without resentment that they couldn't hold back their love and move on with their life.. all this gave the love felt by them a great value that moved me .. really nice characters and great actors!

The 2 hearts that love each other, Wolf Boy and Xing'er, are proof that pure love can overcome any difficulty. Incredibly strong, despite everything, it's destined to meet again, no one can break it even if can meets misunderstandings and it remains separated for a long time! Their story is sweet, romantic and tragic at the same time, it has broken my heart many times.

I'm enthusiastic with Darren Wang's acting. his character is amazing! he's divided like in two personality (even though the wolf boy has never really changed, it all depended on the circumstances) and is made perfect by his eyes and smile. Hard, severe look (also very attractive) of the Bo prince, and sweet and thoughtful smile of the wolf boy! (omg my heart~~)

Can I say also that I love Bao Na is a precious, pretty, cute and tiny character even if at first is so stressful LOL!
OST are beautiful and perfect!

Last episode, really important and bittersweet!!! I will not forget this story .

Very good! I recommend to watch it.
sorry my bad english and thanks for reading~ ☆

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I don't know why but I was really looking forward to this show because I'm a huge fan of Xiao Zhan. I honestly thought this show would be a lot better but I don't know why I just didn't like it. For one, Bo Wang was a heartless person, now I see where you can disagree with me, but usually, in other dramas, they only pretend to be heartless but they actually care a lot but just doesn't show it to the other person. Instead, even when Ma Zhaixing wasn't by his side, he was still kind of heartless. The only reason why I would give this a 7 is because of Xiao Zhan's character, if Xiao Zhan didn't play in it, I would give this a 5-star review. Second off, the show was really boring, Ma Zhaixing's brother who appeared in the first episode went missing. He really only played for like 2 to 3 episodes and then he went missing like I never saw him again. I didn't really like the storyline after the wolf fell off the cliff.

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Unique storyline with Love & Redemption elements.

Finally finished watching The Wolf after 3 days binge watching it. Lol. This drama has a unique storyline which involved in a romance relationship between a guy who was brought up by wolves in a forest and a decent & happy go lucky girl. This drama show the transformation of their roles from an innocent Wolfie guy to a heartless, cold blooded & ruthless Bo Wang and same goes to the FL. End of the day both have one common thing which is both are kind and tried their best to repent on their wrong past deeds ~ Love & Redemption.

For castings - the director managed to get the right person to act on their respective role e.g. Darren Wang Ta Lu to be the Wolfie & Bo Wang as he has that wild & strong persona looks. Same goes to Xiao Zhan who is the 2nd ML over here. No doubt his acting is on top-notch! A few supporting roles like the cute Ma Jing and steward in Qin palace who in charge of the 2nd ML needy things. Tbh I am not a fan of neither Darren Wang Ta Lu nor Xiao Zhan but credit has to be given to both as both managed to bring up their roles accordingly. As for the FL - Lee Qin - I am also not really into her acting but over here she too managed to pull her role well.

Storyline - As I have mentioned earlier it was a bit unique compared to the others cdramas. It was well paced - not too slow or draggy but there are certain repetitive scenes especially on the ML & FL roles. The palace political over here was not too dry as it did focus on the brotherhood relationship between Bo Wang with his 1st & 4th brother whom he loves a lot. Please bear in mind that the ML is not a royalty as he was being adopted by Emperor Yang @ Cui Kun to do his dirty business for him and in return he awarded the ML as his 3rd prince @ Bo Wang. As usual for every drama to be successful it needs to have romance or bromance either in triangle or ill fated ones. In this drama it has both elements. Example the FL has both ML & 2nd ML pursuing her and same goes to the ML who has the affection from FL & 2nd FL that is Princess Bao Na & Yao Ji who hate turned to love the ML at the end. It also involves with lots of roller-coaster emotional over here especially towards the middle of the story where the ML at one moment treated the FL so dearly and the next moment he breaks her heart (that one - you have to watch it for yourself as I am not going to spoil it over here).

Plots - As usual many misunderstanding that leads to conflict and hatred but at the end both ML & FL knew that both acted in that manner in order to save the person that they love & care dearly. Same goes to the 2nd ML who goes all the way to assist the FL to achieve her goals unfortunately the FL treated the 2nd ML as a good friend. Power struggling between Yang & Qing states which causes the FL & Ma Army Troop to take sides to Qing Emperor.

CGI effects & landscapes - I think cdramas has improved tremendously on these area compared to the earlier cdramas which we can see that certain CGI was so badly animated. Over here the wolves and certain landscaping was beautifully shown.

OST - For me I feel that for a drama to be long remembered by audience, OST especially the opening & closing OST played an important role here. Most people tends to listen to songs & recall songs related to their favourite dramas or movie. Over here I especially like the opening OST - "Wǒ shì shéi" (我是谁) sang by Jolin Tsai & rapped by Jony J which was an impactful one as it suits this drama.

Overall I rated it 9/10 even though it might not be everyone ideal ending but to me, I am fine with it. Since I am watching this drama without fully English subbing hence I might miss out certain points e.g. how did Bo Wang recover from his poison? Does the 2nd FL - Yao Ji did a blood transfusion between Bo Wang & Xing Er? It was not shown but later shown that Xing Er bloods turns in black colour same as Bo Wang blood which was being poison. Another facts that I cannot understand & accept was when did the FL becomes so strong & good in martial arts? She can fights & kill hundred of imperial guards in order to save the 4th Prince in the palace. That was my questions. If the scriptwriter refine it with a more logical or reasonable ending story then I will rate this drama with perfect score. To me it does not matter if a drama has good or sad ending as long as it is logical or reasonable unless if the story is a wuxia genre then I will give exemption to it.

So if you asked me if this drama is worth watching then I would highly recommend it but one have to prepare for lots of emotional ups & downs.

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Thrilling but get weaker

Just write a short review for this drama
* Story: at first it already started with fast pace developed. The middle episodes are the peak, love it so much, very thrilling and touching at the same time. But going toward the end, the plot getting weaker like losing its direction.

*Acting: almost all cast have a good acting in their role. I admit I watch this drama because of Xiao Zhan. And he really give it without disappointment. Can’t wait for his upcoming drama. Darren Wang is experienced actor, I have no doubt for his acting even his popularity lost to Xiao Zhan.

* Music: didn’t expect that the modern style musics are so wonderfully match this drama. Love the soundtrack so much

*Overall: this is a good drama with amazing cast, however the story has weakness in the end, the romance scenes in the last episodes are dragging and cheesy make me almost quit before ending

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Interesting premise, poor execution

Themes of betrayal, plotting, and true love are unfortunately poorly executed by a meandering storyline hinging on poor communication skills. The biggest issue for me was when the main two characters did not the truth about each other, and constantly tried to hurt the other to hide the truth. It was cruel and unnecessary.

I believe that the surprisingly high rating is because a large number of watchers are first or second time cdramas, who came from being fans of the casts' other productions. Compared to other cdramas, the plots are average at best, and the main character's dynamic is nearly unwatchable during the middle part of the series.

If you want a "sworn enemies, unfortunately in love, navigating palace conspiracies" cdrama that's actually good, try Rise of Phoenixes.

The soundtrack is pretty good though, and some side characters made it watchable.

[SPOILERS IMPLIED AHEAD]
In some ways, the tragic ending redeemed such a storyline, but also made it hardly worth the watch. Forty-nine episodes which I ultimately started skipping ahead on parts just to see the resolution.

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It’s not a masterpiece some people expected it to be, but it’s a great drama nevertheless.

[This review may contain some minor spoilers concerning characters but there won’t be any major plot related spoilers]

I enjoyed watching this one quite a lot; and what stood out to me the most was acting. The story was good [nothing spectacular in terms of political plot/scheming but it was engaging enough to make me interested and excited to see what happens next], the music was fitting and it managed to successfully enhance many scenes throughout the drama, landscapes were gorgeous [it’s really something that captures your attention while watching], costumes were hit or miss [I mostly liked them but some were a bit iffy], CGI was good enough [compared to some other dramas it’s actually really good] and fighting/action scenes were interesting to watch even though they were sparse. But like I said, the real highlight of this drama are its actors, characters and their relationships.

Darren Wang as Wolfie/Prince Bo captured my attention from the first episode. The way he could seamlessly alter between the kindness and innocence of Wolfie, and strictness and viciousness of Prince Bo is really commendable. Prince Bo is the epitome of the cold male lead [for the most part], but in rare occasions when he smiled his eyes would soften and you couldn’t help but like him or feel sorry for him. I wish they showed more of his backstory and what happened to him during the time he was away from Ma Zhai Xing tho. Seeing that process and his inner struggles would’ve made this drama even better. We see some flashbacks but they hardly tell us anything about this transformation. Darren was definitely the best fit for this role, both for his acting skills and for his physical appearance. He has that masculine beauty this role required.

Li Qin as Ma Zhai Xing was also amazing. Her character went through many hardships and tragedies and her portrayal of those distressing moments was striking. Her crying felt natural and not forced. Ma Zhai Xing went through several phases. But whether she was a naive, lovestruck girl or a serious and determined princess, Li Qin managed to make it believable. Many people complained that as a female lead she was annoying and too weak, and while I do agree that she was annoying [not always!] I also think her behavior wasn’t that far from the reality of how lovestruck girls act in real life. Yes, it’s not wise or helpful and it’s actually quite toxic but it is how it is. Once she got over Prince Bo [or did she?] she turned into a dignified princess that understood what needed to be done in order to achieve her goals.

Xiao Zhan as Ji Chong was also exceptional. This was Xiao Zhan’s first serious role and I was a bit worried that the lack of experience will affect his acting but it turned out that I had nothing to worry about. Ji Chong is an interesting character. When he first showed up as a bounty hunter he was mysterious, arrogant and devious but also charming. Later in the story after he revealed his true identity he turned into a kind, sensible and responsible person whose main goal was to protect and help Ma Zhai Xing. He’s one of the most likable characters I’ve ever seen. Xiao Zhan did a good job showing both of his sides - cocky and free spirited & empathetic and responsible. The ending he got warmed my heart!

When it comes to other characters I have to say that I loved their development. Bao Na and Yao Ji were in my opinion even better characters than Ma Zhai Xing [at least they were less annoying]. I couldn’t stand Bao Na and her attitude when she first showed up but in the end she matured and turned out to be extremely likable. Yao Ji was a great example of how strong female characters should act and I also liked her complicated relationship with Prince Bo. Both actresses did a good job. Members of the Night Fury were also very likable as characters. The ending gave us beautiful conclusion of their storylines.

What I also love in this drama is the romance. Now, in most cases I’m not a huge fan of romance and I try to avoid dramas that are heavily romance oriented. However, in this case it really worked out for me. I like the dark undertones of their relationship. It’s not fluffy or light [even though there are some really heartwarming moments, especially in the beginning and towards the end]. Lord Bo and Ma Zhai Xing start off as childhood friends, get separated for years, and once they find each other again they start off as strangers and reluctant allies but soon enough become lovers. Then everything falls apart and they become enemies. In order to make her hate him Lord Bo verbally abuses her and in general acts like a jerk. Their relationship does get better over time and through all this Lord Bo actually loves Ma Zhai Xing and is trying to protect her in his own twisted way but for some people this may be triggering. I’ve seen people complaining how this type of relationship isn’t trendy anymore in C-Dramas and how they don’t like it, but like I said - it worked for me. I won't spoil the ending but I do have to say that it was beautiful and fitting in its own way.

I’ll end it here. The Wolf is far from perfect and if you’re expecting a masterpiece you’ll probably end up disappointed. I also wouldn’t recommend it to people who like fluffy, light and conflict-free romance relationships or intricate political plots. However, if you like a bit darker historical shows focused more on the characters and their relationships, with the touch of fantasy [those parts from the trailer where Lord Bo transforms into a wolf were cut so don’t expect nothing like that, he’s just stronger and more capable than normal people] I think you may enjoy this. I went in with no expectations and came out more than satisfied.

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I have always been here, waiting and watching...

"Sirius-ly," where did you come from? You must know that you are one of the most beautiful people in the world. At first glance, I confess, I find you super cute and adorable. But when I slow down and admire all your parts together, you are incredibly magnetic and handsome and I feel almost shy just looking at you and the thoughts that come to mind. Something about you… Perhaps it is the character you portrayed and the way you embraced the deepest angst of love and lost. Or, maybe it is your ability to withstand such enduring anguish, all for the sake of loyalty and hope. And, the quiet ways that you protect your love, even in the darkest moments, is purely remarkable. I know it kills you over and over when you have to hurt those you love, when you cannot protect your love. You are beautiful and I find myself completely attracted to you. To have known your love through this drama, I am forever changed.

So, it has been about a month now since I finished the drama but time was absolutely necessary to digest everything.

Every now and then, there comes an experience, a collection of moments that completely takes me by surprise, on so many different levels, that when it’s all over, I know I will never be the same again. Specifically, I am referring to The Wolf. Now, this is not the greatest love story out there. But, IMO, it is definitely one of my favorites. Too often, when I am watching a drama, I am barely moved. In truth, I am easily bored. Perhaps it is because of my line of work and my high tolerance for extreme emotions and different facets of humanity. However, with this drama, through all its lightness and darkness, I was profoundly affected. I am talking ‘skin tingling, all my senses on alert’ affected. I was fully engaged. The light moments are far and few but ever so sweet and endearing. The dark moments are abusive and rather toxic, and probably not to everyone’s liking. For example, there is a scene where the ML is overcome with his desire for the FL. For some, the scene could illicit rage or trauma but I found it highly charged with underlying sexual tension deeply rooted from his frustration to have and to hold. Disturbing, yet beautiful at the same time. Not all love stories are neatly wrapped in perfection and this one has many flaws. But the story telling is so mesmerizing and intoxicating that I was addicted to the experience. I lost myself in the intensity of the unspoken chemistry between the two main characters. Every scene they are together is pure magic. When it was over, I felt a sense of loss and abandonment and I was quickly missing the characters. But, it was such a long journey for everyone, including myself, so the ending was appropriate. All the major players did an amazing job, especially the ML. I could not have imagined a better actor for this role. His rugged look made his character believable. No pretty boy here. My only disappointment was not seeing him actually transform into a wolf.

In sum, this love story is not all ‘sunshine and roses,’ as it dares to expose the vulnerabilities and multiple shades of longing and lust. If you tolerate that love is not perfect and that it can be laced with unimaginable pain and heartaches, give this a try. From gorgeous views of majestic mountain backdrops to the incredible melodies of the soundtrack, I cannot speak highly enough of this drama. I wholeheartedly recommend.

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TOXIC, TOXIC, TOXIC male lead!

Let me start by saying that this drama starts with such an exciting, interesting premise, but for some reason, halfway through, the story becomes an incoherent mess driven by characters that engage in nonsensical behaviors.

Overall, Wolf kept me very entertained (hence the generous rating), BUT my biggest criticism is that it romanticizes abuse to the point it becomes absolutely nauseating. As a female viewer, I kept wondering if the writers really, really hated women, because the amount of physical, sexual, and mental violence inflicted on the female lead by the “hero” of the drama is beyond anything I’ve seen in any Chinese dramas with toxic leads. It's quite puzzling that the censors didn't take issue with scenes showing attempted rape (in some disturbing detail, may I add).

And what’s even more ridiculous is that this drama tries to persuade viewers that all of these violent actions benefit the female lead, who is a helpless and mindless character in constant need of protection. After all is said and done, her character changes very little. There is zero (zilch!) character development: she forgets and forgives all the abuse she’s been put through by the male lead, all in the name of true love.

The cast is fantastic though, especially Li Qin and Xiao Zhan, who stole every scene they were in. While Darren Wang excelled in the action / battlefield scenes, bringing a certain toughness to the character that was very much needed, I found his overall acting to be quite lackluster. Besides scowling (A LOT!) and grunting in pain, his performance lacked emotional complexity and nuance.

The only category in which this drama gets A+ is the OST! Absolutely amazing!

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Plenty of Ups and Downs

Well worth the wait. All actors were amazing from the main leads to all the supporting actors. There are plenty of romantic moments, lots of angst, exciting fighting scenes, humour, friendship, even the baddies were not annoying, they drove the story. One of the few dramas where I barely fast foward scenes, I was interested in all the characters. The music was moving and really added to the mood of the scenes. Although I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, I am not sure if i could watch it again knowing what happens throughout, perhaps will revsit my favourite parts!!

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