I came into this show with high expectations- I like the story premise: A powerful, cunning lead female whose focus is not on the romance but an ideal.
And so far... it's decent. I do like Chu Qiao (lead character) and the dynamics between the various nobility seems intriguing, but it didn't make me go "wow!" in fact I winced at several points from the awkwardness. Setting aside the technical oddities (that everyone is already talking about here), it seems to be having a bit of a identity crisis.
It vacillates between a 'serious' drama and an idol drama.
There's some real tension and then they go and make the 'bad' guys a little too buffoonish, or they employ a silly romantic ploy to get the leads a little closer physically.
I really want to learn what's happening on the political side of things, which I assume at some point will take center stage as soon as the Chu Qiao breaks out of slave-mode to play a role in the big stage, but currently it's just slave in-fighting, although they also make a very, very good point that slaves are considered little more than dogs to be killed on a whim, so some of that fighting for favor is literally life-death for the slaves .
I'm looking forward to seeing more though, and maybe as the scope widens and we get more into the slaves-aren't-things part the story will really start rolling and we'll get some real pathos and feels.
ZLY is a pleasure to watch here which isn't surprising- she has done wonders for lesser characters and Chu Qiao is definitely shaping up nicely in a bad-***, don't-mess-with-me-or-mine-and-I-wouldn't****-you-over way.
PS I'm disappointed for Lin Gengxin so far. He did amazing as 14th Prince in Bubujinxing and here doesn't get to do much but go around with a stony face. He's best when he cracks just a little to smile or look worried or something! In fact currently it's him and second lead (Mark) who get a sexy fight scene.