Beauty, drama, intrigue, action, romance, superb acting, engrossing story.
The actors were fantastic. The casting as well. I became so attached to the characters I truly was obsessed. I thought about them and the situations they were in when I wasn't watching.
I like period films/shows and costume dramas that represent the time and the historical happenings they are set in. I had no preconceived idea of Chinese culture during this period. It was spectacularly filmed and produced to convey the splendor and beauty of the time and place but also the representation of class and hierarchy that was the way of life.
Unlike most modern productions, this one doesn't rely on graphic details. Sex is implied. There is no gratuitous nudity, The battle scenes, while brutal, didn't linger on guts and torture. I found it thrilling to be brought to the brink of an emotion and then be taken to a new scene with another twist and more intrigue.
Speaking of intrigue! There were more plot twists than any mystery I've ever known. I really felt for the characters, rooting for the good and despising the bad. Sometimes being totally surprised to find out they weren't what they seemed.
Some people might be put off by the subtitles or translations, I didn't know if I would watch more than a couple episodes because of the subtitling but I just finished the last episode (68) and I watched them all in less than 2 weeks.
The subtitles were basic and sometimes comical because of the translation, but I don't feel like I lost a moment of the plot or what was inferred. Within 3-4 episodes I was so used to it I forgot I was reading.
I am so happy there were as many episodes as there were in this 1st season. I felt fully satisfied at the end, not let down like a lot of other series. I am hoping I will have the opportunity to see another season though. They left just enough possibility for more drama that I could definitely see another season being as good as this one.
The actors were fantastic. The casting as well. I became so attached to the characters I truly was obsessed. I thought about them and the situations they were in when I wasn't watching.
I like period films/shows and costume dramas that represent the time and the historical happenings they are set in. I had no preconceived idea of Chinese culture during this period. It was spectacularly filmed and produced to convey the splendor and beauty of the time and place but also the representation of class and hierarchy that was the way of life.
Unlike most modern productions, this one doesn't rely on graphic details. Sex is implied. There is no gratuitous nudity, The battle scenes, while brutal, didn't linger on guts and torture. I found it thrilling to be brought to the brink of an emotion and then be taken to a new scene with another twist and more intrigue.
Speaking of intrigue! There were more plot twists than any mystery I've ever known. I really felt for the characters, rooting for the good and despising the bad. Sometimes being totally surprised to find out they weren't what they seemed.
Some people might be put off by the subtitles or translations, I didn't know if I would watch more than a couple episodes because of the subtitling but I just finished the last episode (68) and I watched them all in less than 2 weeks.
The subtitles were basic and sometimes comical because of the translation, but I don't feel like I lost a moment of the plot or what was inferred. Within 3-4 episodes I was so used to it I forgot I was reading.
I am so happy there were as many episodes as there were in this 1st season. I felt fully satisfied at the end, not let down like a lot of other series. I am hoping I will have the opportunity to see another season though. They left just enough possibility for more drama that I could definitely see another season being as good as this one.