Half of Us (2023)

"The sunset was so gorgeous; its clothes were made of clouds."

This series is so beautiful that I eagerly waited every day to watch it on time when a new episode was released. The actors all performed exceptionally well, bringing their characters to life in a way that I won't forget for a long time. I loved how everyone from Wufeng had their own story, and you could empathize with them. I was able to feel both sadness and happiness with the characters. The relationship between the two gong brothers (shangjue and yuanzhi) was what I liked the most in the series; they found comfort in each other and helped each other to keep going.

Leia Mais

An Excellent drama with strong writing direction, and acting hopefully season 2 will follow. 9/10.

Where to start? Fine, let's begin from the beginning.

By seeing the cast, you might feel that the drama will be the usual idol period drama with tons of martial arts. But no, this is a unique, dark, and emotional story of two assassins from Wufeng who secretly go to another sect, Gong, to accomplish a secret mission. But not everything is Calm in Gong's residence. Brothers hate each other; the father does not even like his own son. Son wants to know the reason behind his mother's death, among many other things. But this is where you go wrong. Everything is done for a reason. By the end of this drama, you will understand why this happened in the first place. The characters are beautifully presented, and the relationships between them are shown so well that you can understand the characters very well.

An Excellent drama with strong writing, direction, and acting... Production-wise, all is well, and hopefully season 2 will follow. According to the last episode, it was clearly shown that the creators wanted to produce a sequel or franchise. 9/10... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Leia Mais

I’m here for pity fights and family drama.

Not many dramas can make a certified clown out of me, but this one did, and I kind of appreciate that. Countless rants in the first half, but at the end I became speechless - the twist did its thing.

What got me to start the show was the premise of the female spy assassins arc. What made me stay were the family drama and pity senseless fights when the focus should have been on the enemy. The dynamics between all the siblings were extremely entertaining to watch. While I still believe some of the motivations were… not the smartest, I don’t think it’s the case of characters being poorly written - it was intentional. Because the reasoning was flawed at times, it made the characters more relatable, even if the setting of the drama itself was something none of us could relate to.

Did I care about any of the romances? No. Funny, because that was also one of the things I actually wanted to watch this drama for. The puppy love was too puppy, the “toxic” romance did not get enough highlight to be well developed, the comedy crush was too much. Personally I would prefer if they switched the pairings around a bit - get the puppy with the cunning one, and the cold and heartless with the good natured one.

What the drama did perfectly though were all the visual aspects of the production - from set design, costumes, make up, accessories to the way it was all shot. The fighting scenes? Perfection. This is how you use slow motion to highlight the sequences and certain moves, instead of overusing it to hide bad choreography and lack of skills. Each fighting sequence deserves to be watched at least two or three times to fully appreciate it.

The acting was great. I was kind of traumatized by Yu Shu Xin in Love Between Fairy and Devil and her toddler character, and I’m glad to see how well she does in more mature roles. Personally, I think they fit her better. Zhang Ling He was fine. I do believe Gong Zi Yu’s character was the most boring, so I never truly focused so much on him… My favorite performance goes to Lu Yu Xiao - easy choice. Ad for Ryan Cheng, let’s say I get why everyone got so obsessed with him in that role.

On the bad side - I hated the line delivery of most of the main cast. Separately, they were great. The issue is: they all spoke with exactly the same whisper, slow mannerism, it became exhausting. Any dialogue heavy scenes between Yun Wei Shan and Shangguan Qian? Close your eyes and it’s impossible to tell which one is speaking - they sounded the same. I get it, they are all mysterious spies, but that does not mean they have to speak in the same way.

At the end of the day, it’s a great show. The middle part is the slowest and probably the reason why someone might drop it (I was close to dropping it too), but it picks up later when a lot of things get slowly revealed and explained.

Leia Mais

A Den full of Cunning People who are Unpredictable.

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Plot:
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The setting is in the martial arts world.....

There is an assassin organization named Wufeng to which almost every other martial arts family has surrendered other than Gong family.

Gong family, lives in a valley consist of two hills, front hill and back hill. But freedom comes with a price, so, Gong family paid a huge price for this and faced a huge massacre of its family members and lost almost all males of the family. After that they completely sealed their borders and forbid their members to go outside the valley. Everyone is thoroughly searched and investigated before entering and exiting the valley. Wufeng sent its assassins in the bride selection ceremony held by Gong Family to select brides for the young adults who are reached marriageable age.

Wufeng has four positions for its members: Chi, Mei, Wang, Liang and the leader or head, ascending in power respectively.

Gong family has four lineage: Shang, Jue, Zhi and Yu, all live on front hill, other than these, there are family of three elders: Xue, Yue and Hua live on back hill and are forbid to leave the back hill untill summoned or in case of emergency.

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Actors and Characters:
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Gong ZiYu (Zhang Ling He): He was a lazy and fun loving person at first, who usually has self-pity for himself but also very clever, observant, loyal and kind-hearted. He had low martial arts skills when he crowned as family head, after the murder of his father and brother, by the elders to fill the position as there is rule in family that the position of head cannot be vacant, it should be filled immediately. He faced objections, pressure and a fierce competition to become a true Sword Welder(head) but, he did it and become truly powerful. He knows how to pursue his love and made Yun WeiShan to fall for him by his love, trust, kindness and loyalty. Gong ZiYu proved, pressure makes a man work hard, LOL. Zheng Ling He did a good job with this character.
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Yun WeiShan (Yu Shu Xin): She was an assassin sent by Wufeng to assassinate the Young Lord and Sword Welder(no matter whoever he is) of Gong family but end up falling for Gong ZiYu. She just wanted freedom from Wufeng so she accepted this deal of assassination as her deadly last task. In her life, freedom was the only thing she has been longing for but after entering Gong Family she fall in love and defected from Wufeng for her love. She also has some kindness even after being a assassin for long time. I like her character but don't love it very much because there are not much dimensions in her character.
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Gong Shang Jue (Chang Lei): He is a fighter and a righteous person having a scaring look and cold gaze on his face. His smartness is the second to none in Gong Family. He loves his family and wanted to protect them at any cost. He is the most capable person in the Gong Family, never trusts others easily and ruthless to ones who have intention to hurt his family. Reasonable person and knows rights from wrong. Have a little warmness for the ones he cares for, but never show it outside much. One of my favourite character in this drama.
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Shangguan Qian (Lu Yu Xiao): She is a cunning person and an assassin sent by Wufeng to handle the most hard-to-deal person in Gong family, Gong Shang Jue. She managed to deal with him but was going back and forth between her feelings for him and her mission. At last, she confessed her feelings as well as completed her mission. She is an interesting character from start to end and shows many sides of her character.
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I liked other characters as well like Gong Yinzhi, Jin Fan, Young Master Yue, Young Master Xue, Young Master Hua, Yan Que, Xue Gong Zi. But I don't like the character of Gong Zi Shang, she feels annoying at times. All cast did a pretty good job in portraying their characters well.

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OSTs and Costumes:
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OSTs are okay for me and costumes are decent, but I feel they could have make it better in costumes.

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Ending and Recommendation:
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The ending is a cliffhanger and don't know if we will have a Second Season or not. Many secrets are not resolved yet.
This is a must watch drama for those who really love thriller and mystry genre. I loved this drama and its in my favourite's list now.

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Leia Mais

Dark, mysterious and extreme spy × target troupe

We have already come completed the plot, and the foremost comment I have regarding this is WOW. To all the viewers out there who are still hesitating, just gice it a try. You would regret missing this masterpiece. There are just so many things brownie points this drama has earned.

Cinematography: top notch! Can we talk about the aesthetics first and foremostly. The dark clothes, dark music and dark vibes make it all so cool! The fight scenes by the artists are just so attractive and addicting. You are really gonna be blown off after watching those supercool fighting scenes.

Plot- up until now the plot has all been them openning up clues, and the viewers being unpaid detectives analysing those clues and predicting the possible theory behind each gesture and sentence. You could actually see how everyone has different theories. It's really fun predicting those theories. The funfact is there's reason to everything being done. So the satisfaction you get when some or the other fact is revealed is worth it.

Acting: First and foremostly, every character, literally every character, be it major or minor, doing just guest role or acting as a passerby has a story. And every character plays significant role in the plot. And hence, in these kinds of plots, the acting of the actors become an important factor to enhance these plots and explain these plots. And hence acting of the actors won't disappoint you. Every single actor here did a great job in displaying their emotions. The fact that every gesture was perfect to explain everyone's character. There's not a single character in the cast you won't be curious about. Even a passerby character who was probably mentioned once in the whole plot would make you curious about their role in this story.

And then most importantly, anyone who is major fan of assasin troupe, strong and scheming male and female characters, this ones a must for you.
You definitely won't find any single character insignificant here!

To all the people who were annoyed by GZY's personality, this is a small consolation to you!
"GZY isn't a character who turns from immature boy to an adult man within a day. He is a character who turns from immature boy to an young man with responsibilities because of gradual support from his family and loved ones"

Leia Mais

"云之羽" is an exceptional Chinese drama that has truly captivated my heart.

From its compelling storyline to its remarkable cast and breathtaking cinematography, this drama offers an unforgettable viewing experience.

The plot is intricately woven, filled with twists and turns that kept me eagerly anticipating each episode. The character development is outstanding, and I found myself deeply invested in the lives and struggles of the protagonists. The lead actors' performances are nothing short of phenomenal, bringing their roles to life with passion and authenticity.

One of the standout aspects of "云之羽" is its stunning visuals. The picturesque landscapes and beautifully crafted sets transport viewers to a world of enchantment. The attention to detail in the costumes and the overall production design is commendable, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the story.

Moreover, the drama's exploration of themes such as love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of one's dreams resonated deeply with me. It not only entertains but also leaves you with valuable life lessons.

In summary, "云之羽" is a masterpiece in the world of Chinese drama. It combines a gripping narrative with outstanding performances and exquisite visuals to deliver a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you're a fan of romance, fantasy, or simply great storytelling, this drama is a must-watch that will leave you enchanted and inspired.

Leia Mais

The only dark thing about this drama is the lighting and colors

One thing I appreciated about this drama is that they didn't make the opposition incompetent for the sake of the plot.

Was it frustrating? Yes, every time we lost an argument or fight, I seethed and became agitated cause obviously I don't want my side to suffer any losses .

And every time I saw ShangJue and YuanZhi, I wanted to put them through a wall and for Ziyu to smash a pie in their faces publicly but it would've been a disservice to the characters had they disregarded their capabilities in favor of propelling the ML forward. They put up a fight-a strong one and in the end, it culminated in a ceasefire, instead of a loss-for the sake of their family which I felt was as true as you can be to these characters.

The ML's story and journey progressed naturally (annoyingly slow and filled with interruptions) but they didn't make him overpowered overnight by virtue of him being the ML. He fell on his face...a lot but he got there eventually.

This drama really left its FL behind in its ML's dust.

Who the hell even is Yun Weishan?

I couldn't tell you with a gun to my head. Couldn't tell you what she likes, or what she dislikes. I know she's kind and values those closest to her but that's about it. Couldn't tell you what her personality is or if she even has one. Apparently what she desired the most was discovering her identity and background and if she has a home/family, but we did not get a single inkling into this supposed yearning of hers until they literally told us at the end through a damn letter from Hanya Si. The girl is a blank slate personified and it's kind of odd to witness.

Idk if this was the director's choice or Esther's take on the character. Maybe this is intentional as Wufeng would need to strip its spies of their identities in order to make them compliant and careless with their lives but how come she's the only one with this vibe or lack thereof?

The girl doesn't take up space at all-it's like she isn't there even when she is.

Even now, when we don't know how she's fared, we're focused on his waiting for her. His longing and heartache are the focal point and we never know if she's alive or dead.

Even worse, the question doesn't even arise...

Because her existence and value in this story seems to only be tethered to him and their romance. We experience her through him and his affection for her.

Another thing was the lack of exploration into Wufeng. They were established as the antitheses to the Gong family-their literal arch nemeses, yet we never get to know anything about them. Wufeng is formidable you say? How would I know, I only ever saw their foot soldiers in the Gong mansion-never got to experience their power beyond the influence we're told they wield in the world. They trapped us in the valley with the Gong family the moment we begin the story but much like Gong Ziyu and the boys of the back hill, I would've liked to have explored the world, even if just for a minute.

Also, how many times was the Gong family's way of life highlighted? How many times were they insulted for hiding themselves away? How many times did they themselves acknowledge that this is no way to live and it's doing them more harm than good? Did we get a resolution in the end?

Nope, but we should've. Wufeng wasn't the only obstacle in this story that they needed to overcome-freeing themselves from the prison that they built and grew accustomed to was something I felt needed to happen for their story to be properly concluded but in the end, we just went back to business as usual-it almost felt like there was no point to it all.

The ending and the entire drama as a whole really, definitely feels like a setup for a 2nd season. Nothing is resolved and it feels more like an intermission than a finale.. They dipped their toes in so many different waters but never fully plunge in so you're left waiting for the more that never comes. Why open the door at all if you didn't want me looking in? the way it ended leaves it primed for picking up in the next chapter of the story that might force them to finally leave that damn house.

Leia Mais

Highlights: The Women of Wufeng

Gorgeous actors, great acting, intriguing script that kept you guessing, luxurious costumes, beautiful sets, detailed choreography, this is one of the best produced drama I've seen. Even the fight scenes look so pleasing to the eyes.

MJTY has a dark theme to it, with black, red, gray color pallete with rarely a bright yellow scene with warm sunlight in it. The drama mostly takes place in the Gong Residence, and even with all the spies theme, it kinda feels sort of like a slice of life to me, but filled with lies and intrique, like a palace dynamic but make it wuxia. I liked it.

The story flows through the characters with ease, and i loved how the plot really depends on each characters and how it includes all of them in the story. This is thrilling, but also melancholic and filled with mind games.

For those who didn't mind a slow paced, a bit heavy story, with dark undertone, I think you'll like this one.

P.S: Personally the Wufeng women are the highlight of this show like they carry nearly all the plot it's amazing. Their dynamics?? Their backhanded interactions?? The best.

Leia Mais

The Surest Thing is Being Unsure

In contemplating this drama, one is struck by its intrinsic uncertainty; every attempt to foretell an outcome based on personal theories is swiftly invalidated. Amid fervent discussions within the MDL community, the narrative unravels like a colossal jigsaw puzzle, with assumptions and theories constantly evolving, only to be refuted in due course. The plot remains shrouded in secrecy, devoid of any prior references, leaving viewers to speculate and generate their own theories.

Performances are commendable, with fight choreography leaving a lasting impression. Tian Jiarui's portrayal of Gong Yuanzhi stands out, his wicked smile sending shivers down one's spine. Zhang Linghe's Gong Ziyu exudes an endearing, love-struck quality akin to a teenager in the throes of first love. Lu Yuxiao's Shangguan Qian strikes a delicate balance between reality and deception, leaving the audience perpetually guessing. Cheng Lei's Gong Shangjue subtly conveys secret satisfaction with a telltale quirk at the corner of his lips. Even Omid's portrayal of the ostensible antagonist, Hanya Si, brims with emotional depth and inner turmoil. The costumes are meticulously crafted, and the makeup work is remarkably convincing. The drama also boasts a collection of poignant ballads, expertly timed to heighten the emotional resonance of each scene.

Although the undertones are somber and shadowed, the narrative interjects moments of levity through humor, wordplay, and irony. An instance arises when Yun Weishan addresses Gong Ziyu as "Yu Gongzi," prompting him to retort, "Call me Gong Ziyu," a clever homophonic quip laden with layered meaning. Above all, the story revolves around the romances of various couples. While the first couple commands ample screen time, the second couple receives comparable attention, their relationship characterized by well-defined characters and an air of suspense and suspicion. Just as the audience anticipates a continuation of playfulness, the mood shifts abruptly, veering into darker, more grave territory as the characters confront their would-be assassins, their lives imperiled by unseen poisons.

"My Journey to You" also serves as a cautionary tale on how not to construct a drama. The beginning is amazingly good. It commences with a dark air of mystery, introducing enigmatic characters each with their own strengths, flaws, and hidden agendas. Discussions abound, speculating on the intricacies of the plot and the ultimate antagonist, as every character harbors ulterior motives. By Episode 22, the grand reveal occurs, divulging the whole plot and the mastermind's identity. However, this revelation falls flat as the element of surprise of who the mastermind is has disappeared; the audience has already figured this out in the prior episodes. On top, the supposedly multi-layered scheme by the protagonists becomes not so perplex anymore as the characters settle into their defined roles of virtue or vice, the earlier allure and intrigue fade.

At the end of the story, Gong Ziyu, though growing stronger and less naïve, retains moments of folly. Perhaps most notably, the once wicked Gong Yuanzhi transforms into an endearing figure, affectionately addressing most of his older comrades as "ge ge." The drama concludes with numerous unresolved mysteries, chief among them being the true leader of Wu Feng and the fate of Yun Weishang. These loose ends leave the narrative feeling somewhat deflated, ending with a sense of anticlimax. While a potential sequel is hinted at, it remains unconfirmed.

My Verdict
Despite the drama’s less-than-stellar development, it is redeemed by a cast of strikingly handsome men, from Zhang Linghe to Zuo Ye. Even the juvenile Lester Lin is amazingly good looking. Each one possesses a distinct charm. It is regrettable that Zeng Shunxi makes only a belated appearance with limited screen time.

Though a missed opportunity for a more compelling conclusion, this drama comes highly recommended for its rich entertainment value and the presence of exceptionally charismatic actors.

Bravo! Strongly recommended! Don't miss it!

Leia Mais

"Only the cloud knows the feather"

Spies, assassins, poison, sword fights, and a struggle for the leadership of one of the last sects not under the thumb of the evil Wufeng sect, My Journey to You attempted to cover a lot of ground. Populated with beautiful people and costumes, this drama was sometimes more stunning to look at than compelling.

What drew me to this drama was the promise of not one, but at least two female “assassins”. This felt like a bad translation, as they were more spies than killers. Yun Wei Shan had real possibilities for a dark and intriguing character. Once the Gong male characters were introduced, it often felt like the Wufeng spies had little to do other than talking in whispered tones. When a double tragedy left the underachiever, Gong Zi Yu, as the only choice for Sword Wielder, I had to agree with the snide Gong Shang Jue. Zi Yu was pitifully unprepared for such a task. Of course, it was difficult to side with Shang Jue and his “brother” Yuan Zhi, as they could be insufferably contemptuous. Much of the drama focused on Zi Yu’s trials in the Three Realms of the Back Hill with some assistance from Yun. Shang Jue had his own undercover bridal spy to deal with as well.

At the beginning I was completely engaged with this drama. Then it began to rinse, lather, repeat for me one too many times. Zi Yu and Shang Jue kept being hauled before the elders where they could accuse the other of causing problems. At this point I felt like neither one deserved to be the Sword Wielder. The Back Hill provided some interesting characters and trials when the two Gongs weren’t arguing over who was prettiest. There were multiple attempts at humor, usually involving the overly dramatic and over acted role of Gong Zi Shang and her crush on Zi Yu’s bodyguard, Jin Fan. Which brings up the point, this was the martial world and only the “bad” girls knew martial arts. The Gong women all seemed to be rather defenseless. To quote Eowyn from LOTR: TT, “Those without swords can still die upon them.” The oldest surviving Chinese wuxia starred a woman! I was disappointed by the lack of Gong women wielding swords.

The beginning was strong and I enjoyed some of the middle until it became bogged down in recrimination after recrimination. The last part with the fights that had real consequences was more engaging. Then the big “twist” was almost a movie length of exposition. “I suppose you all wondered why I gathered you here today…” The acting varied from adequate to excellent. This drama should help Ryan Cheng graduate from web dramas for good. I also quite enjoyed Wen Zheng Rong’s performance as Lady Wu Ji. She was able to go from calculating to maternal in the blink of an eye.

Overall, I found this to be an entertaining and binge-worthy, if flawed, drama. Had it not been for my least favorite ending-the open end, I would have bumped it up to at least an 8. Maybe there will be a S2, maybe there won’t. If they develop a compelling S2 that coincides with this story well, I’ll revisit my rating. Even with the disappointing ending, this was a journey worth making.

1 July 2024

Leia Mais

Poetic Cinematography

As a Guo JingMing fan, this wuxia drama exceeded my expectations!

Production 10/10:
The production quality on this was top-notch, and the attention to detail in every scene blew my mind. It was like watching a painting come to life. The sets & scenery; martial arts choreography; character visuals & costumes - these were all literally a feast for the eyes and beyond breathtaking.



*****************SPOILERS***DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU LIKE SPOILERS*****************



Story 8/10:
The overall storyline is about Yun WeiShan's journey as a Wufeng spy infiltrating the Gong clan; and Gong ZiYu's journey into becoming a worthy leader of the Gong family. This story is full of twists and turns, mystery, and the action sequences are intense! For a story with only 24 episodes, many of the characters were written surprisingly well and with so much depth.
If the last 8ish minutes of the final episode were omitted or written better, then I would have given the storyline a minimum of 9/10 rating. My main beef for the plot was that it was incomplete, with the cliffhanger/open ending. There wasn't closure to some of the storylines, especially for the leads. Maybe if there was a 2nd season, then I'd edit my rating. I also disliked that Shangguan Qian did not get her 'just deserts' and escaped relatively unscathed at the end.
My favourite characters throughout the story were the Gong brothers, Gong ShangJue & Gong YuanZhi. The actions of both brothers throughout most of the story made them seem more like villains, but they ended up being very loyal to the Gong family. I would have liked to have seen more of a backstory for Young Master Hua and Han YaSi, they seemed like fascinating characters. I cried during their deaths, especially Han YaSi's.
HYS's death scene with the playbacks of his and YWS's memories together was emotional yet beautifully written. When HYS tells YWS:

I belong to the sunset,
but maybe you can wait
to see the sunrise that belongs to you . . .

What's gorgeous is not the sky,
but the clouds.
It's colorful,
Like the clothes made by clouds . . .

You are the Yun WeiShan
in my heart . . .

The last line is a play on YWS's name. When he said that, it made me think that he was indirectly telling her that he loved her. I'm still not sure if he felt a romantic love for her or if it was more of love between a family type bond -- either way, it made me cry way too damn hard.

Acting/Cast 10/10:
The cast members were both beautiful and talented. It was great to see Esther Yu as Yun WeiShan, a badass lethal spy but with compassion. I liked that she had a normal tone of voice rather than the cutesy child voice from previous roles. For me, this was one of her best roles.
Ryan Chen is one of the main reasons I decided to watch MJTY, his visuals are just WOW and his performance did not disappoint. As Gong ShangJue, I hung on his every word, with the soft yet masculine cadence in his voice . . . Felt every emotion with his expressive eyes, whether it was suspicion, amusement, pain, affection, anger, sadness, and even contempt. When he gives people the side-eye and when he gives that hint of a little smile. . . Okay fine, I admit it, I'm totally biased towards him haha!!!
Tian JiaRui was quite the surprise and definitely a scene stealer. With this being his first drama role, his performance as Gong YuanZhi was exceptional! He embodied his role perfectly as the immature, sadistically psychotic younger brother of ShangJue. JiaRui really had me believing how menacing his character was, with his sinister eyes and creepy AF smile - there were even moments when I felt like I wanted to smack him, lol. But then he was also able to convey YuanZhi's vulnerable side, his sweetness and undying loyalty towards his older brother and idol, ShangJue. I like to call him 'Beautiful Psycho'. The scene where he thought big bro was dead really broke me *sigh*.
Another scene stealer for me was Lu YuXiao as Shangguan Qian. Although I disliked how conniving and untrustworthy her character was in the story, it was still an undeniably stellar performance. I've only seen her play sweet and innocent characters, so it was interesting to watch her as a spy.


***Notes***
My original rating for this was 8/10 because of the open ending. But now that I'm calm and not so bitter, lol, I've raised it to a 9/10 -- I will just pretend that the last 8 minutes of the show did not happen. I had so much fun discussing this drama with fellow MDL'ers and Asian Drama friends. Re-watched several of the episodes and scenes (some more than others) to search for clues in who the real Anonymous was. It was also fun to come up with possible theories and even having some of them come true!

I highly recommend this drama to everyone, especially to the ones who are into the cinematography and artistic aspects of dramas/movies!

Leia Mais