Amor Como a Galáxia (2022)

Warnings of triggers for certain audience. Zhao LuSi shines with Wu Lei in this masterpiece.

2nd edit : Now that I watched it to completion, I agree that THIS IS A MASTERPIECE and that the cast did (all) perform outstandingly.
Nevertheless, coming in as the "naive viewer", it took me some time to warm to it : Ep1 is okay. Ep. 2-4 are literally painful. Even on to ep.10 there's harsh beatings and mental triggers. Still the story seemed to change slowly for the better. The humor especially, black humor, buffoon humor, jokes, etc, peppered even the "painful start" to the story, which indeed was necessary to understand the dysfunctional military family, where the mom thought love had to come with taunts, constant belittling and beatings (though careful not to damage the goods, but at first sight, well....)
So I think this drama should come with strong trigger and PG warnings... It is not suited to everyone's taste, especially if one got lured in by the starry title, not knowing the story beforehand or at least some background. Some reviewers helpfully provided minute details and explanations which may help keep up patience. For once, let's thank the spoilers!
Once this is understood , one can get more easily into the story, admiring the superb acting, the spectacular cinematography, the excellent directing by Fei Zhen Xiang who worked skillfully with the cast and technicians, the humor and the slow burn volcano of sentimenys expressed through gazes and swift protecting moves on the part of general Ling Buyi (played by the godly fit Wu Lei, master of every martial art and riding, and literal Superman at times - though there are no fantasy elements and flying around on rooftops. Well, maybe one rooftop but when you'll get there you'll wow and chuckle along with glee !
I was watching on because despite her dire "education" at the hands of the feared mom, even bruised and battered, Zhao LuSi still shined. And not just a little. She is the superstar here !

So as I wrote I might about my initial review of the first episodes, I did progressively upgrade my opinion on the story (the initial painful part supposedly condensed the 20 first chapters of the novel). It did take me some time to get more wholeheartedly into the relationships.
But from ep 8 to episode 11, everything began to feel like a rollercoaster with addictive feel.
Despite the horrors of war the unfairness of treatment and the jealous girls taking every opportunity to pick on the undaunted girl, I began to laugh and tear up wholeheartedly for Cheng Shaoshang nicknamed NiaoNiao i.e. 'slender and beautiful" (played by Zhao Lusi), her innocent would-be betrothed Lou Yao and of course, the mysterious and dangerous general Ling Buyi, courtesy name Zisheng, nickname Shiyilang ( 11th son of the emperor, unofficially, because although he was treasured by the emperor, he was not from his blood family : he only had been raised in court together with the imperial brats because he was the surviving member of the emperor's deceased blood brother).

The emperor, his empress and his consort, are also important figures in this drama. They were modeled on the real historical emperor Guangwu of Eastern Han dynasty and his two wives and successive empresses: historical Guo and Yin. The unusual transition of having their first sons named crown prince without a great struggle is also interpreted. The emperor in this drama is benevolent as are his wives, but the children are unruly and sometimes vicious, used as pawns by elders who have their own agenda. Lin Buyi stands out impartially, as a "pillar of the state" resolving treasonous plots and old painful mysteries touching his own family.

Cheng Shaoshang is naive, but strong and unusual, so when Ling Buyi repeatedly catches sight of her and her shenanigans, the general (21 years old in the story) warms up to protect her and convince her of his love. It is not sappy romance. Shaoshang is perfect in his eyes only, but as his future wife, she will of course need instruction in a variety of matters and customs to negotiate the real dangers of living in the imperial court. And that is not easy since she had been left behind for over ten years in the deficient "care" of a grandmother who viewed her as expendable and an aunt who viciously mistreated her and made her into an unruly, semi illiterate wretch, only able to react with fights when picked upon. In this first part, she is only 14-15 years old, so of course she has trouble wrapping her head around what she could do, and what would be best.

I started to understand somewhat better the rigid warrior mom, although without warming to her, and to admire the young lady's resourcefulness and cold-blooded resolve. Of course, she'd be the perfect partner to the general, although she still did not realize it. His respect and care was wonderful. The other young men who chased her all had different agendas and personalities.

To sum it up : LLTG is a complex story, a dive into a distant but lesser known part of ancient China through a wonderful and engaging story of a woman's struggle in an age where freedom had other meanings than today, but where upbringing and social awareness are likewise crucial. The hilarious parts provided a well-needed balance. The first images were a bit baffling and it took a while before the drama at last gave some clues about why general Ling's suddenly turned to focus on general Cheng's wild daughter . Slowly, clues were added, the story got more and more interesting. and I had to alter my initial too lukewarm assessment.
The climb to the extraordinary episodes 24 and 27 was a surprisingly quick one. Once rolling, this drama takes away the audience like an avalanche, and both young (not too young as per warning) and older viewers fall into its thrall.

Following the ardent wish of the hundreds of millions who gathered for this drama as it was being released, part 2 started seamlessly after the end credits of part 1 : it ought to have been a 56 episodes one but for administrative reasons, a "part 2" label was slapped on, midways. It would be inconceivable to leave after part 1 or view the parts independently. The drama stays at time of writing on top of the charts in China and I wholeheartedly agree.
This might be the best one for 2022, in its fictional & historical genre.

Leia Mais

Great storyline, Great characters

What great storytelling. With this show, you can't help but feel immersed in the plot and get yourself attached to the characters. The main leads do such a good job playing their roles and do a great job portraying their characters. I love how different the ML and FL is in personality--one is strict, firm, ruthless, cold, and act with authority while the other is more relaxed, easy-going, free, nonextreme, good humored, and act without much care. As opposites are they are, you can help but root for their love to grow. It's so fun seeing how their relationship grow and I look forward to every scene of the leads together. My favorite part of the show is witnessing the change of the ML in the way he acts around the FL. The FL eventually starts to discover her own feelings and thoughts regarding love. Very wonderful show with lots of interesting plot points. For me, although the romance is more slow-growing and subtle than some other shows, I enjoy it. I like watching how their relationship slowly progress and bloom. Can't wait to watch part 2!!

Leia Mais

Too good...

The storyline was amazing. The FL and ML have great chemistry, even their eyes and expressions are on point.

I've been a fan of ZLS for a long time and this show made me love WL, too. I really thought that YY and ZLS's chemistry in WRTW is undefeated but the chemistry of these two (WL and ZLS) in this drama is on another level. ZLS's acting is so good (she becomes really pretty too) and WL is strikingly handsome.

I almost cried in the scenes where Shaoshang felt insecure because of her mother. Too heartbreaking. I also laugh every once in a while (fun scenes), oh this show is making me go crazy. This drama is surely a full package.

The cinematography and music work hand in hand. All the actors (literally the actors, Leads, SLs, and extras) are amazing. They just matched.

The story is not slow-paced nor fast, JUST ENOUGH for you to be invested in it.

I'm now watching Part 2 and after ending every episode, I can't wait to watch another episode. This is the only drama where every scene is so good (haven't used the forward button at all).

I just really hope this has a Happy Ending!

I'll definitely rewatch this! 1000000000000/10 - Recommended 100%!

Leia Mais

The best cdrama of 2022

This is the best chinese drama of 2022 for me. I have watch other chinese drama, but for me this is the best. First few episodes is a bit slow but its for us to know the story of the characters. This is the only drama that I have waited every episodes to release and the only drama that I didnt press fast forward.. The main leads few encounters asking me for more of them. Doesnt have kissing scenes but I still love them. The director is very good, because he show us the other side of the character like Wu Lei. I like his character here. He is soooo good. So ruthless & brutal and yet soft & loving to Shaoshang. Shaoshang is a bit naive maybe because in the drama she is just 15 years old. I have watch all dramas of Zhao Lusi, but so far this drama Love Like The Galaxy is the best of her drama for me.. Looking forward to the part 2..

Leia Mais

Expected better acting from Wu Lei, Still Loving the show though!

So the first 4 episodes are kind of hard to get through, but by ep 6 it starts to pick up.

I enjoyed those establishing episodes a lot tho, not for the content, but that it really set the stage for understanding and sympathizing with Shao Shang.

The main downside is 1. I honestly expected Wu Lei (Leo Wu's) acting to be better, and so far, it reads as stiff. I'm not sure when filming took place, but it shouldn't make that big of a difference. From the previews I've seen of later episodes where General Ling has to be more emotional, his acting does seem to get better, but I'm painfully aware of the fact that he's acting too often now. His handsome face just can't make up for it past a certain point :(

I think because he was a child actor, he's trying to take on many roles where he plays a more mature and manly character, but those roles aren't as convincing just yet. I hope with time he'll improve. Imo, his acting was a little better in The Long Ballad (or maybe the long hair made me dumb and i just ignored any of the flaws, haha).

I saw a reviewer say it might've been better to cast General Ling's character to an actor 35-45 years old, and I think I have to disagree. General Ling is a young character—the emperor dotes on him like his own son, and has also commented on the fact that he's still too young and inexperienced with war. I think that puts him at around 20-30 years old, max, but I'm leaning towards 21-25 (Lu Yuan is 21/22 I think(?) and Ah Yao is around 19, correct me if I'm wrong).

Zhao Lu Si is doing a wonderful job, and she adds dimension to SS's character. She's killing it rn, though I'm kinda worried she'll be stiff for more romantic scenes, but it makes sense because Shao Shang is ony 15 and is inexperienced. (Having to constantly make a mental note that girls married very young back then, haha T_T)

The older members of the cast also deliver pretty well, esp that grandma, the mother, and the father. Wow the grandmother is disgusting, but she sure is funny in her ignorance. Actress is selling it. So is the mother. I've never wanted to yell at a fictional mother this much before, who's more of a bridge burner than she is a mother. my god.

I like the wealth of characters, the world really feels immersive. the romance is a little slow right now, and I don't really like how it keeps hitting us over the head with General Ling as the obvious choice, but the ML's character in and of itself has few faults and is very respectable. I actually like his character, if just for the fact that he keeps being less assertive, but that's because he's busy, and falling for CSS was not in his plans.

Did i say the main downside was Wu Lei's acting? The 2nd downside, is that this is taking too long to update! With 6 eps every week, 2 every Tues, Wed, Thur, you'd think it'd be enough to tide us over. I'm starting to wish this had been picked up by Netflix, but even then, they'd never drop all 27 at once TT_TT. Here's to waiting another 4 days TT^TT

anyways, im eagerly waiting to see the newest eps lol. hopefully i'll update the review when i finish pt. 1.

Leia Mais

The brightest stars on Tuesday to Thursday!

Every episode of this series had me completely hooked. The production is excellent for a S+ drama; it is unquestionably not a lousy drama. I adore how it addresses family issues that occur frequently in real life. And I also particularly enjoy the drama's comedic elements because they give it more flavor. The development of the relationship between the male and female leads is also extremely logical and follows the natural course of a relationship. The plot has a characteristic that sets it apart from previous historical dramas that I've watched. Not to add Zhao Lusi's flawless portrayal of Cheng Shaoshang in her performance. Her facial emotions are incredibly detailed, and she has the ability to make you both laugh and cry. Wu Lei's acting is also excellent, although occasionally he comes off as being too tense. Wu Lei and Zhao Lusi have incredible chemistry together.

Leia Mais

Love and revenge story

I am delighted with this drama. The plot is slow in the beginning, there are a lot of details and I know it is not for everyone, especially for those impatient and fans of short wuxia stories that more or less resemble each other. Such viewers quickly give up and give this drama low ratings, which is very unfair on their part. This drama is much more complex than it seems at first glance. ML carries the burden of the secret of his true identity and the desire for revenge, which at first glance makes him cold, rude and a little scary, while FL, despite her youth, has gone through very difficult times. And in fact, the two young people are cordial and eager for the love they lacked while growing up. They have similar characters, stubborn, persistent and cannot stand discipline and rules. The beginning of their acquaintance was very interesting, but I believe it will be even more interesting to observe how the coexistence of two similar, yet different personalities develops.

Leia Mais

Never a bore, plot moves at a good speed.

What can I say, I enjoy watching this drama and the plot is quite interesting. This drama tells the story of Niaoniao; a daughter of a general. She is like your modern girl who is sharp, witty, and carefree.

FL Niaoniao and the ML Ling Buyi meet each other; and ML falls in love first. They have their bittersweet moments, but eventually, they become engaged. There are some cute moments and chemistry; like when Niaoniao helps clean and fix ML chest injury.

I also enjoy the family dynamic here; how the king treats ML like his own son. The king raised ML and kind of allowed ML to do his own thing, without punishing him; as long as ML doesn't go overboard lol. Although he did kill someone without the king's consent (but I think he did the right thing).

FL Niaoniao and her family are fun to watch; she has three siblings. She is a twin and has two older brothers. One brother is away at the front line; so he hasn't shown up. Niaoniao relationship with her father is sweet; I like how her father tries to be understanding of her; knowing that she was raised away from the home. Niaoniao and her mother don't really have a good relationship, because her mother expects Niaoniao to act like a lady; well; her carefree attitude since young and never being taught to follow rules; makes her mother always criticize Niaoniao. But, eventually, their mother-daughter relationship improves over time.

End of ep 28 Niaoniao and Buyi are getting ready for their wedding :).

Leia Mais

Why cast Wu Lei as the male lead?

I love the beautiful series and have rewatched many episodes already
BUT >> Huge Casting Mistake of the main Male Lead.
I noticed Wu Lei in Whirlwind Girl and was happy to learn that he was starring in the popular Love like the galaxy.

Unfortunately, he was not ready for a role of this calibre. His acting range is too narrow for the moment.

Lei fails at performing the intense stares justified by his role as lover and slaying commander.
His stares are bad and even spoil the kissing scenes. Painful.
I am the only one who fast forwarded his intense stares ?

Lei's head looks ridiculously small because of the huge clothes and armour put on him.
It makes him look like a puppet.

His face was made to look longer (by opening his jaw). Ridiculous...
It distracted me throughout the drama.

It is unfair to Zhao Lu Si, the main actress. It could have been the best drama couple ever.
It is my first time watching Zhao Lu Si at work. I am looking forward to watching more of her works.

Great production / amazing music. Is there an award for the best opening credits? Magnificent visuals.
Loved the actresses playing Shao Shang's mother (Zeng Li) and QiQi (Zhang Yue).

Leia Mais

Give it a try!

I'm always not a big fan of a slow burn romance. That's why I've been sticking to xian xia dramas. I've try watching The Story of Minglan and couldn't really keep up with it. A friend of mine then recommended Love Like the Galaxy to me. I was skeptical at first because it was a slow burn romance. I've watched 4 episodes and thought that the story was too slow and nothing has happened except seeing FL and her family's problems. I was going to dropped it at first but then I've decided to at least give it another 3-4 more episodes. I continue and my goodness, I can't stop watching. Once you pass episodes 4 and 5, that's when the good stuff starts coming in. You just want to see more every time each episodes ended. The preview trailers are the worst. Each time a trailer comes out, it just makes you so eager to see the next episodes. And the male protagonist, he has such beautiful eyes when he gaze at the female protagonist. This is the very first slow burn drama that I've actually like and enjoy watching and willing to wait for. For those who are knew and is wondering if it's worth your time, I'd see give it a try. Everyone has their own taste in dramas so whether you like it or not is up to you. I'm really glad that I've give this drama a shot. Can't wait to see the next episodes! Thank you to whoever is reading this review. Happy dramas!

Leia Mais