This was such a great show! I definitely enjoyed the martial arts world arc more than the political drama in the latter part of the show, but it still kept my interest. TBH, it was a little overwhelming in the beginning because we were introduced to so many characters from a variety of sects & clans who carried magnificently named weapons! But luckily the writers allowed the plot & characters an opportunity to breathe after a few episodes so that we were able to enjoy the relationships & character arcs & plot development more. I appreciated that all the characters were smart, strong, or both; no one was useless in the show. I liked that they showed how strong the older generation were compared to the young bloods, and how hard the younger generation continued to work hard and get better. The main characters did not automatically become the best fighters but instead kept practicing their marital arts though their multiple loses.

I loved the relationships between the leads (males & females) and their dialogue & interactions. They all had natural chemistry, especially between Xiao se, Wuxin, and WuJie. There was romance but it was subtle & low-key. I know some folks didn’t care for the coupling or thought it was mismatched, but I disagree. I loved how Xiao Se & Qian Lou developed their relationship throughout the series, and how their personalities complemented each other. She was a strong woman! WuJie & Rouyi didn’t get as many screen time together but I did enjoy seeing them bond. He is such a silly chap!

This would have gotten a higher rating if they treated Wuxin better! He needed more screen time, especially w/his BFFs! And they did him dirty towards the end. I hated it. The ending w/Prince Chu was kinda anticlimactic too so that kept it from getting a higher rating. Finally, the bonus 5 mins saved the last 0.5 rating for me. If you know, you know!!

Overall, great show & definitely one I would go back to view over & over again. I would say it is on my Top 10 C-Drama of all time…maybe even cracking Top5!