A Journey to Love (2023)

epic love story

oh my word. I can’t even begin to tell you how this show suckered me in and never let go. It was action packed from scene 1 and the rest is history.

The cast, the supporting casts, the music, this was the total package. I haven’t seen a show this good in a loooong time. Liu Yuning killed it. I think he made the show this good, whoever said that he isn’t male lead material or not good looking enough needs to get their eyes checked. Trust me, I’m an eye doctor ;)

FL is such a badass, I loved her. She is so beautiful and so strong. You love their love story, you get to know all the side characters and will care about everyone.. and you pray for the HEA for them all …

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Heads & Shoulders Above the Rest

I want to start by commending the casting director because they did such a fantastic job.
Aside from the script/plot (although I agree it went a little bit sideways in the last 7-10eps) which was stellar, the success of this drama IMO stems from the fact that the casting director and director of this drama didn’t cast any popular “idol” and casted people that can actually act. What a refreshing breath of fresh air to watch a drama where nobody is conscious of their angles and trying to look good instead of actually acting naturally. I totally understand that dramas want to make money and they have to cast this idols and most of them can’t act worth a dime, even to save their lives, but since they are popular and bring in lots of traffic and have fans that will defend their acting until their last breath and swear to the heavens that we haven’t seen acting like that in history and if you dare state otherwise, you are thereafter branded a hater/anti (unfortunately a lot of reviewers fear the attack from the aforementioned mobs so they keep quiet instead of rocking the boat and give their honest reviews if the drama sucked or the acting sucked), this directors are unfortunately forced to work with this very good looking but extremely average actors. Also not just acting, the combination of average and recycled scripts are also part of the problem.
I honestly commend all the actors for a job well done, I can’t emphasize enough what an awesome and stellar job you all did, it was incredible to watch, I want to specially shoutout to the most outstanding character to me and that is Princess Yang Ying aka Prince Li, the Justice this young actress did to her role will go down in CDramaLand history IMO, she was spectacular, she was believable at every point of her journey, I was left in awe everytime she graced the scene, I can’t wait to watch more from her in the future, honorable mention to Yu ShiShan, Alen Fang what a fabulous job you did with that character (and that shimmy was definitely on point)
I wish the last few episodes weren’t so rushed and was fleshed out as the beginning of the drama, it felt like they just threw everything at us all at once but all that being said, IMO this drama is still definitely heads and shoulders above the dramas of its kind this year.
My only complain would be in the romance department, if felt like they gave us a lot without actually giving us anything, the romance started out well but it kinda frizzled out as they became official.
I highly recommend.

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the acting was exceptional

I miss liu Shi Shi in costume drama, so naturally I was anticipating this, but I forgot how good she was, the casting was perfect I liked the minute emotions passing through every characters eyes, it was perfection. when I started I was like they would all die anyway, who goes on a deadly mission and expect to come back alive, but few episode into the series I started to have hope, the characters grew on me, yuan lu, yu shisan, Qian, sun Lang, and A'ying. no character was unnecessary, every one played an important part in driving the plot, the story and the romance worked hand in hand neither bringing the other down, I also loved the consistency of the characters though the actress who played chu yue was a bit lacking at her representation of the character, her acting took a turn for the better eventually. you get to understand their thought process and even Jiu obsession for Ruyi though annoying was nonetheless heart wrenching and somewhat understandable for me. It's human nature to hope even while knowing the truth, I saw their demise, but I loves the characters so much I was in denial and when they started to leave one by one it made it all the more heartbreaking, even though I balled my eyes for the last few episodes, I'll still stand by the fact that this was a masterpiece, a journey, a romance and a relationship worth journeying with them for. the ending were chu your sees them all galloping through the meadow was soo beautiful and though she met a young boy named Ning Shisan who through his words we realized was Yangzhou and Ruyi's son and even had a little sister named Ren Lu who their father loves more, I realised that's the ending I wanted but it's all in chu yue's head, it's all in my head. War hurts, it's not necessarily about who won or lost it's about those who fought, about those who remain and try to move on, about those who are left and can't go on, even the emperor of wu learnt what sincerity and gratitude was. I totally recommend this, badass females, friendship, brotherhood, realistic death of main leads, and beautiful cinematography.

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Almost perfect. Deserve to be called best cdrama of 2023

Romance, adventure, brotherhood, sisterhood, love in its many forms, all can be seen in this drama. I really liked that this story does not end when the leads got together but goes beyond and proved again and again that they really are the perfect match for each other. The characters make logical or at least understandable decisions, love is not their end all be all, except maybe for one character, but he moved on from that. My favorite side characters are Yanying and Yuan Lu. Yanying's arc in particular was so satisfying, her growth from a timid princess to an outstanding leader. Yuan Lu always brings freshness whenever he's in a scene. Another unforgettable character who gave me mixed feelings was Li Tongguang. I didn't like him and his shenanigans but he kept mesmerizing me and I keep rooting for his happy ending.

If you want a respite of the many love centric dramas then this one's for you.

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I really enjoyed this drama about a highly skilled female assassin who has mostly been alone, and a very intelligent leader who values his relationships with his subordinates above all else. The plot is well-developed and multilayered, and although I've watched very dramas in this genre of power struggles, political intrigue, and battling kingdoms, it didn't feel predictable or boring. Liu Shi Shi is fierce, elegant, and absolutely magnetic. Liu Yu Ning is solid; I've yet to see enough of his work but he holds his own here with Liu Shi Shi, which is not easy.

The biggest surprise for me was the humor and how much I loved the supporting characters. Ning Yuan Zhou's team of Yuan Lu, Sun Lang, Qian Zhao, and Yu Shisan are absolute treasures. (In the scene where they first assemble and walk out together surrounding Ning Yuan Zhou, I called them Journey's F4, haha.) Fang Yilun (Alen Fang) as Yu Shisan is this drama's biggest scene stealer--I've seen him in several other dramas and he's never been as memorable as he is here, even when he's played the lead. His comedic delivery is impeccable but he also nails the emotional scenes. Yang Ying has another memorable character arc, although I didn't completely vibe with He Lan Dou's portrayal. Chu Yue is another surprising gem of a character; another female character who bravely pursues what she wants and defies the expectation to simply become someone's wife.

My only gripe is that although every other character is well-developed, someone really dropped the ball on Li Tongguang. Li Tongguang is a central character in the drama, yet his character arc is constantly one step forward, three steps back. Just when you think he's finally overcome his obsession, he does WHAT??? It completely took me out of the story because it felt so out of place. His last story arc also made no sense?! Chang Hua Sen played the role well though and is certainly on my radar now.

As for the ending, I'm fine with it but perplexed by the character they decided to focus on in the final scene.

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Comedy, Brotherhood, Romance, Bittersweet | Excellent Drama

I absolutely adore everything about AJTL, from its cinematography to acting and every aspect in between. The meticulously choreographed fight scenes and even CGI contribute to the overall excellence of the series. As someone who is typically picky when it comes to Cdramas because, let's be real, they can be a bit draggy and sometimes cringy. But AJTL? I find myself engrossed in every episode, without the need to skip any supposedly dull moments – a testament to its exceptional quality.

The on-screen chemistry between LSS and LYN is undeniable, and their pairing is visually stunning. I fail to comprehend why some may perceive LYN as unattractive or unfit to act alongside LSS; on the contrary, I believe he is the perfect match. His styling is impeccable, complementing his on-screen presence, and his fight scenes exude a natural fluidity, devoid of any awkwardness. AJTL has truly captured my heart. <3

The cast of AJTL is absolutely amazing, especially the LDT squad plus YY! <3 Their dynamic is hilarious, and witnessing the princess's growth from start to finish is truly heartwarming. Though, I do wish we could've seen more scenes with LTG and YY. I can't stop singing the praises of LTD – these guys steal the spotlight, especially when they're teasing NYZ or YSS. Whenever they gather, it's non-stop laughter, and I've grown so attached to them that I dread the thought of them parting ways.

The last six episodes were particularly tough, filled with sadness and heartbreak, but what's a Cdrama without a little emotional rollercoaster? Some social media users argue that killing off all the main characters was unnecessary. Yeah maybe or maybe not? Lets see: NYZ was already dealing with unstable inner force, knowing the risks when he decided to return to An to find YY and RRY. So when he got stabbed, it's only natural that RRY would follow – her happiness was intertwined with NYZ's fate. As for QZ and SL, their deaths in battle were sadly expected given the dire circumstances against Pan's army. About YL and YSS – their death might seem sudden to some, but it's in line with their characters. YL's health issues were evident throughout, and after exhausting 2 horses, he decided to run without resting, knowing YSS was still fighting his battle, his fate was sealed when he reached his destination. And YSS, well, he'd never abandon his comrades, even if he stands a chance together with CY. It's been said that if NYZ fell in battle, YSS would complete the mission and joined him. It's what they signed up for – to fight alongside NYZ and face whatever came their way. That's the essence of the show.

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Ever watched a C-Thriller?

Forget C-Drama, this was a C-Thriller. I’m lost for words with those last 10 – 12 episodes. It was full of ups and downs, deaths all over, it was crazy. The writer literally went rampant in an attempt to kill all actors. Well, at least the crew survived and delivered this fabulous act. I honestly couldn’t tell you if this was out-of-the-box unorthodox writing or a rushed end because this drama seemed to overdo certain things but then later there seemed to be the acknowledgment of, We know what we’re doing.
Quite admittedly those first episodes were a bit underwhelming, and I felt that some scenes were just a bit over the top especially with the guards taking their tops off to impress the FL, that was unnecessary I thought because the message had been put across that FL was gorgeous, it was unnecessary to make it that apparent. My highlight of this drama was the first 4 episodes and the last 12 and I think it was for many of the viewers. It would be best if you watched to fathom what I’m talking about.
I liked the development of all the characters in the drama namely the princess/prince, everyone grows into their persona to become these selfless people and I’ve to give the writer and all the involved crew their flowers. Recently we’ve seen many dramas that’re let down by the production team or the writers, in other words, there’s no coherence between the way the writer envisages their content and the ability of the actors and production. In a year of crap dramas, at least this hasn’t been a letdown.
This drama had as many plot twists as a roller coaster riding through a twisting labyrinth. My goodness and then the music just slotted in perfectly. As I said what I enjoyed most was the growth of all the characters and maybe some other things like the CGI, and voices, came in secondarily. I even didn’t feel bad following the deaths of basically all the main actors, that’s how good this drama was and kudos to all the involved staff, you’ve rescued the year to some extent.
I think this goes on to show what these writers are capable of if they indulge in some not-so-stereotypical writing and think outside the box, not just copying each other’s work and using different actors for the same old storylines. I encourage more dramas like this where I do not necessarily have to guess what’s happening at the end. It’s gotten boring.

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A must watch wuxia drama

This drama was definitely something. Usually I personally like to watch dramas in the background while doing something else but while watching this drama, I actually had to put everything else down.

From the acting to the OST, everything just felt perfectly in place. The romance of the main lead is not something you would see a lot of, considering that their relationship was established pretty early on in the drama compared to other dramas who make the leads' love story the main plot for the entire show. Naturally, this early establishment of their relationship gave much more time for them to go through different adversities together and realising their mistakes, adding to the depth of their affections.

However, their love story was not the main thing that kept me watching this drama - it was brotherhood and the character development of all the main characters. While watching this drama, you'll gradually get attached to each and every one of the characters because of the liveliness and humour they bring to the plot.

The 9.5 rating is just more of a personal preference as I didn't like the ending as much (you will know what I mean once you get there) but otherwise the drama was well executed and engaging to watch.

Happy Binging!

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finally romance with selfsufficient female + good wuxia

__*A Journey to Love (2023)*__ - 9/10 -cdrama
its same like with One and Only ... I loved it enough for 9,5/10 but cause quite tragic ending I wont dare to rewatch it in near future.
Ending is kinda very alike to One and Only at least by hurtful feelings it lefts.

This drama is 7 brave or 47 ronin type of drama with main characters having each quite interesting personality which can grow through whole drama. And mainly cause this quality you will feel sadness once you see die some of main characters.
By end of drama I had some kinda dejavu feeling and could predict what will happen in next eps. Still this drama took me on ride and I had to binge it.

Overall for me its one of best historical tragic wuxia cdramas. Of course its mainly caused thanks alot of romance storylines through whole drama.
plot is long and change through 40eps. I will just summarise beginning.

__*plot*__ - two kingdoms fought for gold mine and WU country emperor was taken hostage. [ML] as former master of WU spy agency was send to protect princess[pretending to be prince] to enemy AN country buy emperors freedom back. Possible successors of WU emperor dont want WU emperor to get back and they will make problems for whole delegation. Former AN country top assassin[FL] joins to delegation to help ML in exchange for his help with her revenge towards AN country.

__*genre*__- wuxia, romance, politics, tragedy

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Brilliant

Be prepared to fall in love with the characters, their development is so well handled and their acting is on point.
Everything in this drama screams acting masterclass.

I was pulled into their court intrigues and felt deeply about our main couple who are world weary and have been betrayed by the very people they admire and have vowed to protect. Their relationship is a constant, the chemistry and respect is palpable.
Ruyi is one of the strongest female leads I have encountered. She is proud, fierce incredibly talented, flirtatious, outrageous and admirable.

The young naive princess Yang Ying is a hidden gem. Her emergence from terrified female out of her depth in dangerous situations to a person who weighs up the difficulties and makes informed choices is terrific to watch.
There are lots of bad/evil characters but one of the most interesting is Ruyi's disciple, Li Tongguang, his plotting and machinations make him an easy fall guy target and his obsessive stalker behaviour to his shifu creates lots of opportunities for conflict.

If you come on this journey and hold out to climactic last episodes you will probably need several boxes of tissues. For me the most heart rending is watching the youngest member of the delegation. Yuan Lu, who despite his heart issues pushes his body to exhaustion delivering the vitally important message requesting military back up for his brother. Then there is Shisan, known as a playboy and lover of all things beautiful in life, making sure the woman he loves is safe before making a final heroic stand fending off the enemies.

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A good kind of different

I don’t think I’ve watched a drama which ending I am sad about but at the same time satisfied with. This is the kind of drama that would spend most of the time building relationships, giving the kind of interactions you are looking for and watching the characters grow, so much that towards the ending, you can’t imagine a different kind of ending than the one they did in the drama.

There are so many parts to the drama which I absolutely love. Each character has their time to shine and you could see how the character grow and change throughout the drama. They may seem insignificant in the beginning but as you progress towards the end of the drama, you can’t help but see the importance of their roles. Just losing one of them would change the tone and it wouldn’t be the same. The plot is so connected to each other, it is actually a journey.

It’s not just about romance. It’s a mixture of sacrifice, comradeship and love for the country. This group of soldiers (or spies) were betrayed by their emperor but because of their trust towards their leader and the love they have for their country, they are willing to put aside that hatred and sacrifice their lives to protect the people in their country. They are a group of people who puts their country and their comradeship before anything else. As much as they dream of living a peaceful life, they knew nothing else but the chaos they lived in. It’s their calling and they recognised it. The final few episodes were the most painful parts but I do think each of this character had lived the kind of lives that fit their characters and also died for the most noble reasons. I guess they all have found their peace in the end. In a way, it’s probably the only way they could find peace in the kind of environment the country was in. Their sacrifices made a huge difference to winning the battle but there would be more battles to come and they could never truly retire even if they had survived.

This is truly one of a kind and I really think the way the drama had progressed was very meaningful and fitting. Definitely worth watching.

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A journey to love yourself.

This series is one of the last to come out this year, and I didn't expect to be hit with such a captivating story only a few weeks before the new year, iQiyi jealously guarded this gem. The story itself is rather simple about two assassins, Ren Ruyi and Ning Yuan Zhou from two warring and enemy countries, Wu and An. Of course, it wouldn't be exciting if the two didn't fall for each other.

The premise begins when in a bloody battle, the Wu state loses and the Emperor is taken prisoner to the state of An.

Yuan Zhou is the former leader of the Six Dao Hall, an assassin organization, who found himself accompanying Emperor Wu during this battle and one of the only ones to survive. Long story short, he is later pressured to accompany the delegation, with the Princess Yang Ying trapped by the Empress schemes into cross-dressing as a prince, and save the Emperor. At his side are other assassins who accompany him in his task, of course the audience is led to discover each character and fall under their charms.

As for Ren Ruyi, she is a former assassin of the Scarlet Guards who had to re-infiltrate the ranks of the organization to find the murderer of the Empress of An who was like a mother to her. Due to lack of luck, she finds herself having to abandon her scheme due to circumstances that will be detailed in the series, and she cross paths with Yuan Zhou while she tries to hide. Yuan Zhou agrees to host her and eventually, through other circumstances, she accompanies the delegation to enter the state.

I won't reveal more about the story, but I will touch on a word about how their love story was. First, it doesn't seem forced, then, refreshingly, it's Ruyi who runs after Yuan Zhou, who from a charismatic leader becomes timid in the face of these attempts. The two quickly learn to understand each other due to their unique position and much is conveyed emotionally through their gestures and facial expressions. It's mature and above all healthy.
Ruyi is probably the most badass female character I've seen, they didn't try to build her reputation too much, and on the contrary let her skills do the talking to later reveal that Ruyi is in fact a legendary assassin. Yuan Zhou is equally impressive, especially his wits and adept at playing mind games with his enemies. They are a power couple in all their glory and it is a pleasure to follow them.

The pacing of the story is really good, we don't dwell endlessly on misunderstandings, it's generally resolved within one episode and we stay focused on the main story. The secondary characters are just as interesting and often touching, they all have a story that is revealed. The overall production is really good and also the fighting scene, nothing on the level of "My Journey To You" (a series released this year whose cinematography is breathtaking) but really pleasant to see.

I have mixed feelings about the ending and the last episodes though, I think the writing could have been better and it's a let down by the writers.

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