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Rattan chinese drama review
Completed
Rattan
1 people found this review helpful
by Nelly
Jul 24, 2022
30 of 30 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 7.0
Story 7.0
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 5.0

Weird, but okay...I guess?

OVERALL
I'm honestly at loss for words with this drama. If you love Chinese fantasy, strong/mature female leads and a tame slow burn, you might be down, but if you're looking for a deep, well-written plot, you probably won't. Then again, I was and still kind of ended up being down...so I guess you could just give it a try and see!

THE STORY
So...I came into this drama convinced I wouldn't like it. I really don't like Chinese fantasy series, it's usually too over-the-top with unconvincing CGI and poor writing. And yet, I ended up watching this drama all the way to the end, so it definitely was better than the average xanxia drama. What I think works out with this drama is: 1) the female lead is AWESOME, the kind I can't get enough of (but unfortunately C-dramaland prefers to recycle the ditzy, childish FL all the time), 2) the fantasy is mixed up with suspense because characters are trying to figure out their past, so the mysteries keep you hooked, 3) the CGI and fantasy elements aren't over the top (at least, for 2/3 of the drama), and 4) there're some really cool shots (the sets are so pretty!).

The problem with this drama is that it has some pretty serious, and I mean SERIOUS flaws. The last 5 eps are ridiculously bad. It feels like the writers were drunk when they wrote the ending haha The romance is also too tame for my liking. The problem isn't the pace (the drama does slow burn right), it's the fact that when things are suppose to heat up, we hit that 5 last eps mark and all hell breaks loose. With such a terrible ending, there's just no time/space to give us the juicy scenes the leads deserved. Other things bothered me, but they're more personal. I really don't understand some typical Chinese fantasy tropes, like the nemesis that is always ridiculous and acts like a caricature, so I had a hard time with some of them. Also, main lead legit goes to work once in the entire drama haha The plot was so out of touch with normal life, I couldn't take it seriously.

Bottom line: If you're in need of a filler, you can give it a try, but I don't guarantee you'll like it!

THE ACTING
I really like lead actress. I first saw her in City of Streamer and I loved her in that drama too. It's the vibes she gives. So cool! Lead actor wasn't bad but didn't draw my attention as much. The rest of the cast was okay, except the villains, who were too cartoony for my taste, and the child actors, who (except for one little girl) were particularly bad haha

THE MUSIC
Honestly, the instrumental stuff was cool, the songs were HORRIBLE.

REWATCH VALUE
Null. Not worth rewatching.
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