DREAM, REALITY, REDEMPTION

The story is well filmed and directed. The only problem is that the dream takes too long ... more should be devoted to the ending, which is rushed. More should be shown between the dream and the real world. What the ML said and how the FL responds in the the dream world.

Well, there's enough evidence that it can be a HE ... the script writer has put everything there that shows that they can be together if she accepts and loves him. This is a BIG IF though ... but in the dream she loves him so maybe it will carry through. In her dream she already worked out that she shouldn't hang on to the first love, ZYL, and the imaginary defender, HRZ.

She already knows that she shouldn't hang to HRZ as a self-protector because she knows she is strong enough with ZXW's love.

She went to the coma with the assumption that NO ONE cares and loves her. She wakes up because ZXW shared that he has always loved her for the goodness in her. He gave her motivation that she can do good like sharing the incense with everyone.

So it's a good ending because there's no need to explicitly say everything. BUT it's rushed!
I gave this drama an 8 because I feel the ending is rushed. There are 2 ways to deal with this: either show more interaction between the dream and real life (ie. he talks to her IRL) ... show those interactions or develop the ending more. The ending is rushed so we are left with a few cartoonish abrupt transitions. I think they should show how the ML talks to her during her dream and how she reacts (this is only done at the end).

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The type of anti-hero story

The saddest ending is that the heroine prefers the anti-hero because he would do anything for her ... anything that even her mom wouldn't do for her! Basically, a slave.
Throughout the story I got the sense that she likes TJ because he represents safety and the "deepest" love that transcends even parental love. She said it herself in ep 62 that her mom wouldn't do something for her but TJ will ...
Without this love, she feels insecure. Well I don't know if TJ represents love or anxiety medication? But whatever.

Overall, the acting perfect in this drama. The song is beautiful.

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A Classic Remake kind of watchable

I don't know how many times I have read the book while I was a teenager and then seeing the HK version for countless times. So, YES, definitely I am biased. I thought I would be dropping this drama because as DH said, it's been done too many times. And I know the story backwards. And yet, I am still watching it ... partially for old's time sake and partially because of the new special effects.
Let's begin with what's wrong with this drama ... and why it's NOT rated higher:
1) Wang Hong Yi as Yang Kang cannot capture the complexity of this character. He doesn't have the look/presence of Yang Kang, who is supposed to be handsome, tricky, good/evil, and so charming.
2) Bao Shang En as Huang Rong falls short of the iconic role by Barbara Yung, who has the personality and the presence of this beautiful and smart FL. BY (although a little bit too old for HR) could capture the essence of HR from the book. Bao Shang En doesn't have the look and also the acting capability for this role.
--- although after watching her more and comparing her with other Chinese actresses from other remakes, she does a decent job. Watchable.

3) Ci Sha as Guo Jing ... Looks-wise I think he does look like Guo Jing. However, acting wise, he doesn't have a lot of expressions. Guo Jing is again not a straight forward person. He's gullible, honest but he's not dumb. Felix Wong as Guo Jing was a better actor. And when paired with Barbara Yung, they had so much chemistry.

4) Huang Yao Shi also failed because the way he acts was like a parody of the character! Not as I remember from the book. For example, when the GJ's teachers challenged him, he puts hand on his head as if to say, "you've got to be kidding me"! Seriously, HYS shouldn't have this type of gesture. He doesn't make jokes like this ... He's dignified and serious.
Same thing goes for the beggar king ... Yeh, they are not acting like the characters from the book.

Like a lot of other reviewers say, this drama glosses over A LOT of scenes and character development. It's like telling a summary of the book. For people like me, it's kind of ok because I just need a summary- I've seen it so many times. For others, please watch the HK version. It's just like the book ... so good in storytelling and acting.

Why I give music such low score? Please just go and listen to the HK version. OMG ... I don't speak cantonese but the music was amazing. And the singers too!


After looking at the other 2 Chinese adaption of this drama, I decided to give it another chance. The FL is not too bad relative to the other previous ones.

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A Remake of a Classic - FAILED

I don't know how many times I have read the book while I was a teenager and then seeing the HK version for countless times. So, YES, definitely I am biased. I thought I would be dropping this drama because as DH said, it's been done too many times. And I know the story backwards. And yet, I am still watching it ... partially for old's time sake and partially because of the new special effects.
Let's begin with what's wrong with this drama ... and why it's NOT rated higher:
1) Wang Hong Yi as Yang Kang cannot capture the complexity of this character. He doesn't have the look/presence of Yang Kang, who is supposed to be handsome, tricky, good/evil, and so charming.
2) Bao Shang En as Huang Rong falls short of the iconic role by Barbara Yung, who has the personality and the presence of this beautiful and smart FL. BY (although a little bit too old for HR) could capture the essence of HR from the book. Bao Shang En doesn't have the look and also the acting capability for this role.
3) Ci Sha as Guo Jing ... Looks-wise I think he does look like Guo Jing. However, acting wise, he doesn't have a lot of expressions. Guo Jing is again not a straight forward person. He's gullible, honest but he's not dumb. Felix Wong as Guo Jing was a better actor. And when paired with Barbara Yung, they had so much chemistry.
4) Huang Yao Shi also failed because the way he acts was like a parody of the character! Not as I remember from the book. For example, when the GJ's teachers challenged him, he puts hand on his head as if to say, "you've got to be kidding me"! Seriously, HYS shouldn't have this type of gesture. He doesn't make jokes like this ... He's dignified and serious.
Same thing goes for the beggar king ... Yeh, the are not acting like the characters from the book.

Like a lot of other reviewers say, this drama glosses over A LOT of scenes and character development. It's like telling a summary of the book. For people like me, it's kind of ok because I just need a summary- I've seen it so many times. For others, please watch the HK version. It's just like the book ... so good in storytelling and acting.

Why I give music such low score? Please just go and listen to the HK version. OMG ... I don't speak cantonese but the music was amazing. And the singers too!
There is a version with better actors ... I think I will try this one: https://mydramalist.com/2529-legend-of-the-condor-heroes-2008

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Reserving Judgment on this one

This is my own personal opinion. I am not an anti-fan. For those who want the ratings to be higher, you need rate every episode. It's not an anti fan problem. The issue is that people don't rate.

I am a ZLS's fan as far as acting. The acting is amazing, and she has grown a lot since her last drama. However, the script is not as entertaining.
I think the script needs to be less complicated, more leads time together, more interesting content, more humor, etc.

Production: 10 Amazing special effects, very high end visuals
Acting: 10
Script: 7 borderline boring up to 6
Director: 6 (Just look at how LLTG is directed. That drama is 10+)
Emotional investment in the character: 2 (this is a script/directing problem)
Chemistry: I am a fan of this couple from the Long Ballad. The chemistry there is amazing. Some how I don't feel it here yet. It's the director and script I think.

However, I am going to wait to see how the story develops after 10 and will change the rating as required.

THE PLOT
Conflict - pearl trading with a revenge/ hidden identities twist, and government investigation. Amidst all this, a young girl develops her character, discovers her true identity, and becomes a jewelry business woman.

eps 1-6 : sets up the backdrop - I think this could be done in 1-2 episodes. But they dragged on. While ZLS acts well and looks amazing as a pearl diver, I think if the script is not entertaining/funny, it's going to be a drag.
If you watch, LLTG, the director is good there and the rating shows it: It's boring family fighting, but he made it fun and entertaining to watch. It's a piece of art.
In contrast, The Pearl Girl, amazing production and special effects, is not skillful in presenting the material in an entertaining and artful way. It's more like Hollywood Little Mermaid with too much other things and graphical violence going on --- Like Korean drama!

eps 7-8: It's beginning to get interesting because she is finally involved in something more meaningful: negotiating trades and dealing with business. She also made a femal friend to help her out instead of struggling by herself. You can see where the plot is heading: Zhang Jin Ran told the girls that in Chang-an, there are shops run by females.

eps 9-10: predictable the way it's filmed. He tricked everyone to believe that he killed the accountant. I still don't feel good about the script. Very mediocre. I don't think it will do well beyond the 8.2-4 range. There are a few story holes - like why she is so strong and can take on the bad guys in fighting. I think the director of this drama is not a good one.

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Good solid comedy

Ever since Glory, I stopped watching K drama ... I feel it's getting too graphical and having needless violence, gearing towards abusive relationships. I saw Castaway Diva ... again it was more skewed towards abusive relationships, which took over the drama and made it unwatchable for me.

So I am looking for comedy without the trendy abusive stories. This one seems to have the good acting, the story line, and all the funny jokes. I like it so far after 2 eps. The audience is being surprised with unexpected events. The jokes are not physical jokes so the writers are doing a terrific job here using irony to make me laugh.

Of course, the story is going to be predictable with happy ending because it's a comedy. But the writing makes it entertaining and not too stressful to watch.

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Repetitive

This is the problem with C dramas (and to some extend, K dramas too)... if a person is famous for a role, she/he gets to repeat it as many times as there are fans to watch it.
I was a huge fan of YM in Eternal Love ... amazing story, actors, chemistry, songs, ... everything... perfect 10+
But do I need to see it in re-iterations and in a plot that's so trite? Probably not, especially, the same actress playing a similar role.

I gave up after 3 episodes ... she acts very wooden in this drama. Side-by-side, she looks like his teacher or older sister. While mismatched age in itself is not a problem if there is chemistry, I just don't feel it ... story is predictable.

I guess what it is that the plot is not fresh - same old story that has been shown many times. And the intro doesn't make the story engaging ... I didn't feel invested in the characters ...

I guess I am NOT some one who watches drama because of an actor/actress ... I watch for content and acting. So even if my favorite idol is in the show, I am not going to waste my time. I rather rewatch the show that she/he was good in than watching new ones. Yes, I have rewatched Eternal Love at least 5 times. :-)

I am going to wait for better ones in June ... meanwhile, K drama is killing it this year with 2 amazing shows: Queen of Tears and Lovely Runner.

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